What's the score? Trust's concern

OLDHAM’s old scoreboard, shown for the West Ham game in February 1990.

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TRUST Oldham have expressed concerns over a crowd funding campaign to buy Athletic a new score board, with the club choosing to bring in new perimeter advertising boards.

The Trust was heavily involved in driving the much-publicised 'Know the Score' campaign which resulted in a sum of £27,000 being raised by supporters last summer.

Ex-Italy striker Gianluca Vialli had launched the campaign at SportsDirect.com Park with his firm Tifosy 13 months ago.

A score board similar to that at Bury was within reach despite the campaign failing to meet its ambitious £120,000 target.

But with Athletic deciding to install video advertising around the perimeter of SportsDirect.com Park, the Trust say they are in the dark about what has happened to the fund.

"We have recently been informed that the club is pursuing a perimeter advertising board option," the Trust said in a statement.

"However, no clear details have been provided to the Trust, or indeed Tifosy, regarding costing, commercial terms or revenue expectations.

"Despite the huge amount of work the Trust committed to undertaking in promoting the campaign, we have not been consulted by the club on any changes or developments to the original score board initiative and we would urge the club to fulfil its original commitment.

"At this stage, the Trust are unable to give reassurances that the club's plans meet the expectations which supporters had when they made their pledges and donations.

"(Chairman) Simon Corney has stated publicly, and this was confirmed by (chief executive) Mark Moisley at a meeting with the Trust on February 13, 2017, that any fan who has contributed to the crowd-funded score board fund can request their donation back in full at any time."

The club had yet to comment at the time of going to press.

Meanwhile, Athletic have appointed former Lincoln City and Oxford defender Luke Foster as their new commercial manager.

Foster (31) owns a clothing business and has worked in property and commercial sales.

He replaces Kevin Fitzgerald, who lasted only two weeks in the job before being dismissed for a breach of contract.