Never a dull moment

NEW CHALLENGE . . . Neil Joy has become chief executive at non-league club AFC Fylde.

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FROM the brink of extinction to two runs at the play-offs and a colossal FA Cup run, followed up by the worldwide controversy over Ched Evans and six managers in 17 months.

Athletic's station has never risen above League One during Neil Joy's five-year stint as chief executive, which ended last week.

But at a club that continues to struggle to make ends meet, it's rarely been dull.

Joy wrapped up his mission at SportsDirect.com Park on Saturday, saying his goodbyes after the 2-0 loss to MK Dons.

He has become chief executive at ambitious non-league side AFC Fylde, but still looks back with particular satisfaction at the day he and Sean Jarvis took on the ruins of the Chris Moore era, taking on the majority shareholding for £1.

"It was probably my best achievement and the one I'm most proud of," said Joy, looking back on those dark days of 13 years ago in his modest office within the club's creaking old Main Stand.

"The club was on its knees and we had to do something. I took the club on with Sean, trying to keep it going, but ultimately, there was no way it could be done with the resources available to us.

"We all thought the club was gone. In the current world, regulations are slightly stricter now in terms of going into administration and coming out of it. We didn't lose any points for instance.

"We got it into administration which bought time and even though it's blowing our own trumpet I think we did save the club - because nobody else was doing it."

BURDEN

A buyer was eventually found four months later - Simon Corney, Simon Blitz and Danny Gazal stepped in - but the uncertainty of the unravelling Moore era placed a burden on staff.

"At one point, the staff were on a minibus going down to Torex to see Chris Moore," Joy recalls. "It was tough, not being paid and doing it for no money.

"But because they love the club and want it to survive, they go that extra mile.

"The staff, to a man and woman, have been brilliant. Unless you are on the inside, you don't actually see what hard work goes on just to keep the place afloat."

One example of the mucking-in that sticks out concerns that FA Cup run in 2013. After beating Nottingham Forest thanks to a startling comeback at the City Ground in front of 3,000 away fans, Athletic were drawn to face Liverpool.

The fixture was in peril due to adverse weather conditions and it meant everyone at the club had to do what they could to get the game on.

"We came in on the Saturday morning and there was one lad with a fork and a spade, me and one foot of snow everywhere," said Joy.

"We had the game on the Sunday at 4pm and had it been the previous day it wouldn't have gone ahead.

"Everyone came together to clear the pitch and the stands, but it didn't look like we had any chance of getting the game on.

"A call was put out for volunteers and we then had about 100 people on the pitch at one point, clearing the snow.

"All the staff and directors were down and helping out and it summed up the spirit of Oldham."

FEEL-GOOD

The 3-2 victory over the Premier League giants and the subsequent taking Everton to a replay created a feel-good factor.

When Lee Johnson helped save Athletic from the drop, the bright young manager appeared to be crafting the club into top-six contenders.

Then Johnson left for Barnsley and though four managers - Dean Holden, Darren Kelly, David Dunn and John Sheridan - have been and gone since, Joy reckons the club have at least picked the right man this time in a man in Stephen Robinson.

"That cup run galvanised the club and set it on the path to where we ended up," Joy added. "Paul Dickov was leaving at the time and we brought in Lee Johnson. It set the ball rolling to put the club in what I felt was a great place 18 months ago.

"The new stand was going up to provide the investment to keep the club on its feet, but when Lee left, it was very difficult.

"Last season was a terrible one for the club. We admitted that and apologise for the mistakes that were made.

"We had won at Scunthorpe under Lee, beat Swindon in midweek and were virtually in sixth place, with the momentum to push on for the play-offs.

"Colchester were next on the Saturday. We lost 1-0, Chris Porter scoring early on. There was an offer for £5 entry and after losing, Lee left soon after. It put the club in a downward path and it's only now it's starting to come round."

Despite all of the difficulties and stresses, Joy - who has a host of family members who are dyed-in-the-wool Athletic fans, including son Alfie - looks back on his time at the club fondly.

"I have loved my time here," he said, following the end of a 17-year stay in total that began in the accounts department. "It's been great and there are various times where you get experiences you would not get in other walks of life - administration being one.

"The work we have done on the new stand is another and the problems it has generated. You always feel you are problem-solving and it does take its toll, stress-wise.

"But it doesn't mean you don't get up in the morning wanting to sort it out. I take great pleasure in the fact we have resolved most problems."