Barlow out at Wigan

RICHARD GRAHAM will see his basic wage slashed by a massive 50 per cent if he agrees to stay with Athletic. It has emerged that the contract on offer to the defender, who has already turned down one deal, is mostly based on a pay-as-you-play policy. Because of Graham’s horrendous injury record, Athletic wouldn’t risk a conventional contract like the one which runs out on June 30. They want to pay him a much lower wage and top it up with appearance money, assuming the 25-year-old can stay fit. Graham was initially offered a six-month deal, but that has now been extended to a year. If he played regularly, it is unlikely he would be out of pocket. But if the injury jinx struck again, his income would be severely affected. 

Graham’s partner Lyndsey contacted the Chronicle to explain why he is yet to commit himself to Athletic. She said: “The way things have been portrayed, it looks as if Richard is holding out for more money when, in fact, the club is halving it. I think the fans should be made aware of that.” Lyndsey, the mother of Graham’s two children, said the family would struggle financially if his pay was halved. She added that he felt hurt at the way he had been treated after nine years at Boundary Park. Graham has started only a third of Athletic’s games in the last two seasons, with his main problem being a knee-ligament injury. But Lyndsey said a specialist had given the knee the all-clear and was delighted with the way he had recovered from surgery. If Graham refuses to sign, he can move on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling. Athletic want to keep their longest-serving player, but the two sides have reached an impasse and his future could be uncertain for several weeks to come.

 The Latics move to a new state-of-the-art stadium is still clouded in uncertainty. It was just over three weeks ago that their hopes of moving just down the road to a 15,000 all-seater arena were dashed. The ruling Labour Party on the local council, which had earmarked land on the nearby Clayton Playing Fields, lost out in the local elections. And the Lib-Dems, who took over the voting power, immediately rejected the idea. It means another site in the town will have to be found - or crumbling Boundary Park , their home for more than a century, will have to be rebuilt for the 21st Century. The situation is far from ideal because it also leaves the town's rugby club, who ground-share with the Latics, in a state of limbo. And unless funding can be found, it could be a long time in the future before anything is settled. While other towns build new grounds, like nearby Bolton and Wigan, the Latics seem to be in never-ending talks.The Latics board have always favoured moving to a new stadium, and so has boss Andy Ritchie. He said: "We are losing money hand over fist on maintenance costs and it can't go on. "The fans deserve better and a new stadium with hospitality and banqueting facilities would be a major plus. "We have to look to the future and a new stadium is the only way forward." Ritchie added: "I know Boundary Park has its history, but nostalgia doesn't pay the bills. "A move to a new stadium might even release money and make it available for players." The 39-year-old Ritchie and 34-year-old rugby coach Mike Ford both want the best for their respective clubs, and both have ideas about the way forward.  Hopefully, their vision of a new stadium as the sporting centre of the town is not too unrealistic or too distant a dream.

 The Latics have reported that there has been no transfer activity at the club in recent days. Oldham Athletic have five players on the transfer list and, so far, no bids are on the table. It means that boss Andy Ritchie has no hope of bringing in the striker he so desperately needs to launch a promotion bid next season.
There is no money in the Boundary Park kitty and he has been told that he must sell before he can buy. Mark Allott, Paul Beavers, Mark Innes, Matthew Tipton and Scott McNiven are the players being sacrificed to bring in some much-needed finance. It is traditionally quiet at this stage of the close season for lower division clubs, but Ritchie is keen to get his man sooner rather than later.

Paul Bracewell, Kevin Ratcliffe and Bruce Rioch are also linked with Wigan but Wilson is hot favourite to take charge if contract terms suit both parties. Chairman Whelan admits missing out on promotion is a costly blow in his long-term plans for Wigan to become a major football force. He told M.E.N. Sport: ‘‘I am sure we will be stronger from what we have experienced. We badly wanted to go up and John Benson was desperate to take us up. ‘‘We couldn’t have got any closer, and when you have been so near you have that will to do everything you can to achieve what you are striving for. We will go up before too long. ‘‘They say in this game you make your own luck but we didn’t have much since after Christmas and too many key players were out injured.’’ M.E.N. Sport can reveal first division football at Wigan would have seen the club targeting several big name Premiership players. Former Wigan skipper Peter Atherton, the Sheffield Wednesday captain, was strongly tipped to be on big-spending Wigan’s wanted list.