Latics in court over tax bill

A general view of the pitch from the corner flag before at SportsDirect.com Park, Oldham..

ATHLETIC were due in the High Court today over a winding-up petition brought by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs over a tax bill.

Official court listings had Oldham Athletic (2004) Association Football Club Ltd down to appear before Registrar Barber at the Bankruptcy and Companies Court to answer the petition.

The sum involved is thought to be around £20,000. Athletic said back in March that the debt to HMRC had already been paid and that they expected a "full retraction", but despite that, the case was still to be heard from 11am and other creditors could in theory come forward asking to be paid.

"Oldham Athletic would like to assure fans that recent events relating to our position with HMRC have been incorrectly reported and we are indeed completely up to date with all our liabilities relating to the club," Athletic's statement said when the original petition was detailed in the London Gazette on March 17.

The club faced a winding-up petition last summer, brought by HMRC, with the debt already having been paid.

Meanwhile, Athletic's assistant manager Ian Baraclough has been released from his contract at SportsDirect.com Park to take up the position of Northern Ireland's under-21s manager.

The 46-year-old takes over from Jim Magilton and fills a role that had previously been taken by Athletic's former manager Stephen Robinson.

"I am delighted to have been appointed and I am looking forward to working with young players in Northern Ireland," said Baraclough, who could select Athletic right-back Cameron Dummigan during the forthcoming 2019 UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign.

"I will be aiming to help the team be successful in qualifying and also to help develop future senior internationals."

Athletic have linked up with grounds maintenance company ALS Contracts, part of Maxwell Amenity Ltd, with the company taking over the upkeep of first-team and training pitches.

Grounds manager Lee Williams and deputy Paul Flynn will transfer their employment to the new company.

The club also stated that a drainage problem had been discovered that may have damaged the pitch this season.

"As well as outsourcing the maintenance of the pitch, after detailed work undertaken by Lee, a major problem was found with the main outlet for the pitch drainage which had been compromised while the new North Stand was being built," said Athletic director Barry Owen.

"Work will be undertaken shortly to eradicate this problem which will help ALS Contracts and Lee to hopefully improve the playing surface next season."

Athletic will face Blackburn Rovers in league action next season for the first time since the clubs clashed in the Premiership back in 1993.

Rovers were relegated from the Sky Bet Championship yesterday despite winning 3-1 at Brentford.

In League Two, the play-offs will be contested between Luton, Exeter, Carlisle and Blackpool.

Bradford and Millwall will contest the League One play-off final on Saturday, May 20 (3pm kick-off).

The Bantams secured a 0-0 draw at Fleetwood yesterday to see them through to a 1-0 victory on aggregate, while the Lions won 3-2 at Scunthorpe to progress after a goalless first leg.