Latics sign Beavers on a free
McLean drafted in for opening day
bookies favour Preston

STRIKER SIGNS

Latics persistence with Sunderland over Paul Beavers has finally paid off. Andy Ritchie finally got his man late this afternoon but not on a loan arrangement as Latics have signed the 6' 3" Beavers permanently on a two year contract. The only formality for the 20 year old Beavers to complete is his medical as terms have been agreed and the forms signed. Beavers will not feature in the squad tomorrow against Preston North End but will be involved for the Worthington cup tie at Stockport next Tuesday.

http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/latest_news.html

---

It would be a return from the cold for the former Bradford man, who hasn't featured since November. Ritchie has always rated him highly, but McLean's rate of progress since arriving on a free transfer has disappointed Athletic's management team. The reshuffle has been forced by a one-game ban for centre-half Stuart Thom, who was sent off for a professional foul in the penultimate game of last season.

Andrew Holt will move inside, leaving open the left-back spot which was previously taken by the transferred Paul Reid. McLean is a specialist in that position, while Rickers looked uncomfortable there in last week's friendly against Sheffield United.

Other than Thorn and injured duo Steve Whitehall and Richard Graham, Athletic will be at full strength for the big Lancashire derby. John Sheridan returns to central midfield, Junior Agogo makes his competitive debut and several of the club's youngsters are competing for five places on the bench.

ATHLETIC (from): Kelly, McNiven, McLean, Rickers, Garnett, Holt, Sheridan, Duxbury, Innes, Adams, Allott, Agogo, Tipton, Sugden, Swan, Salt, Hotte, Miskelly.

Preston manager David Moyes is already facing an injury crisis, with six first-team players joining the suspended Julian Darby on the sidelines. Winger Lee Cartwrlght and defenders Paul Morgan and Ryan Kidd will be missing, as will Adam Eaton, a close-season capture from Everton. Gary Parkinson Is a long-term absentee, but the biggest blow for North End is the loss of highly-rated midfielder Farid Diaf. The Frenchman, who has become a central figure in their plans since signing a three-month contract, injured his groin in training yesterday.

Pontins League updateOldham kick off their Pontins League campaign with a tough trip to near-neighbours Preston on Monday week.
The Pontins League Premier Division game at Deepdale kicks off at 7.15pm, and Oldham will be looking to consolidate their position in the top flight following promotion last season.

DIVISION TWO Oldham versus Preston

Last season: Oldham 0 Preston 1

Danger man: Lee Duxbury - the Latics all action skipper is once again determined to lead by example.
 

Farid Diaf is out of Preston’s start to the new season after being badly hurt in a training ground accident. The French midfielder tore his groin when he slipped on greasy turf as rain ended a long dry spell at the club’s Springfields camp yesterday.

The injury means North End will now be without SEVEN players for the big kick-off at Oldham tomorrow. And manager David Moyes admitted today that, with five substitutes on the teamsheet this season, he would be taking all remaining squad members to Boundary Park for the opening match. “It is not an ideal way to start a new season, but we have to get on with it,” he said.

Diaf is expected to be out for “several weeks” and boss Moyes admitted the news was “a massive blow to the boy and to the club”. “He just slipped on the wet surface and his leg went away from him,” he said. “He has ripped his groin and it’s quite bad. “It is terrible news because Farid has done very well in pre-season and he was looking forward to the season starting.”  Diaf has been given permission to fly back to France for two weeks to rest and have treatment from the physio at his old club Da Lavall.

“He can’t do much here while he’s waiting for things to heal, so we’re letting him go back for a while,” added Moyes. The latest addition to the casualty list means Preston will be below strength for the start of a bright new season.

Winger Lee Cartwright is ruled out for up to a month after suffering more knee ligament damage at Bolton on Sunday. And defender Ryan Kidd is also absent with a thigh strain.  The other absentees tomorrow are Paul Morgan (toe), Adam Eaton (toe), Gary Parkinson (knee) and Julian Darby (suspended). Moyes said: “We want to get off to a good start just like we did last year. But seven players out for the opening day only makes it tougher.

“The great start we had 12 months ago meant we got into a bit of a rhythm and got some confidence going. And that is what I’m hoping we can do this time.  “The mood is very good and there is a good feeling about the club. The players are ready and it’s just a shame that the injury situation has taken the shine off it a bit. “We have a tough start looking at the fixture list. But I’m only looking at one game at a time and at Oldham tomorrow we will need to be at our best.

“They have looked good in pre-season and we are the away side. So we will have to go there and be cautious.”  In addition to the seven players ruled out for Boundary Park, Preston’s situation is even worse with new signing Steve Basham unlikely to start the game. The youngster is lacking match fitness after recovering from a summer hernia operation and should be one of the subs.

:

The introduction of squad numbers is just one of several changes to the Nationwide League this season.

Substitutes: Clubs will now be able to name five, of which three can be used.

Goal difference: Returning after seven seasons of league placings being calculated on goals scored.

Referees: Officials will revert back to the traditional all-black strip.

Dugouts: Maximum of 11 people, including five subs, on the touchline. All must be named on teamsheets.

Dissent: An experiment in the Auto Windscreens Shield will allow referees to move a free kick forward 10 yards if they have just shown a yellow card for dissent.All systems Agogo for Latics' hit man Junior
By Brian Ellis 

African striker Junior Agogo could have been playing for Ghana tomorrow – but he opted to face Preston instead.

The 19-year-old is so desperate to establish himself in the English game that he chose a Saturday afternoon at Oldham in front of an international cap.

It will the third time Agogo, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, has said ‘no’ to his country to pursue a career at club level.

And North End will be aiming to show the pacy frontman he made the wrong decision with a frustrating 90 minutes at Boundary Park.

Latics have taken the teenager on a month’s loan with the hope of extending that should he prove an instant hit.

While Andy Ritchie’s side will be strong in midfield this season, it is up front where the boss feels the need to strengthen after the close shave with relegation last season.

And he is hoping Agogo will forge a productive partnership with Mark Allott, last season’s top scorer with just eight.

Oldham only managed 48 goals in their 46 League games last term and that poor strike rate was a key factor in their brush with the drop.

They stayed up, but only by the skin of their teeth on the last day of term. They won their final two games against Stoke and Reading and had cause to thank Manchester City for beating York to put the Minstermen down.

Had Latics been relegated, they would have completed a rapid fall from grace, from Premiership to Third Division in just five years.

But, even though chairman Ian Stott has now resigned and the club is up for sale – majority shareholders JW Lees Brewery are offering their 48 per cent to the highest bidder – there is still plenty of optimism around Boundary Park going into the new campaign.

Ritchie’s team have had a marvellous pre-season and are hoping they haven’t peaked too early. They won the Isle of Man International Tournament, drawing with both Watford and Stockport before winning both games on penalties. They have also drawn with a strong Blackburn Rovers side and beaten Sheffield United 2-1.

Ritchie was delighted that in six games his team only conceded two goals. And that may have something to do with a change of formation from five at the back to an orthodox flat back four.

In midfield they have added Neil Adams from Norwich on the left side to compliment Mark Innes on the right, with skipper Lee Duxbury and the evergreen John Sheridan in the centre of the park.

Keeper Gary Kelly, from Preston, has been in particularly fine pre-season form and can be expected to produce his usual heroics against his hometown club.

Littlewoods           7/4, 9/4, 5/4Ladbrokes            7/4, 5/4, 9/4Stan James        13/8, 11/5, 11/8Victor Chandler   15/8, 11/5, 6/5John Wood         15/8, 11/5, 6/5