Ripley salutes fans and does not rule out return to Latics

YOU'RE THE MAN: Connor Ripley (left) with Peter Clarke after the last game of the season

SHOT-STOPPER supreme Connor Ripley clearly enjoyed his season-long stint on loan at Athletic, and he's not ruled out a return to SportsDirect.com Park should an opportunity arise.

Goalkeeper Ripley (24) earned a reputation as a clean sheet master at Athletic last term, securing an amazing, division-topping 18 shut-outs as he played in all 46 Sky Bet League One fixtures.

He has now returned to parent club Middlesbrough, with many tipping him to force his way into the first-team reckoning at a club which will now be gearing up for life back in the Championship next season.

Ripley has praised the input of the defenders who played just in front of him in helping register so many clean sheets - particularly club skipper Peter Clarke - and has revealed that he left Athletic with a heavy heart.

Ripley said: "I'll definitely miss Clarkey. We've become close this season and we're good mates.

"He's such a genuine man, and a great player.

"Ultimately it'll be sad for me not to be at Oldham, but I need to kick on with my career and move on with Middlesbrough.

"Clarkey has told me he wants me to stay, but I need to sit down with Middlesbrough now and basically see what the crack is.

"If they want me to go out on loan again, then of course Oldham would be on my list to look at.

"The fans at the club have been amazing, too. I really can't thank them enough, they were epic.

"That last away game at Wimbledon was pretty special - it sounded like there were about 50,000 of them there."

Meanwhile, rumoured Athletic target Stephen Dawson - the former Scunthorpe and Barnsley skipper - has signed for League One rivals Bury on a three-year deal.

The combative midfield general (31) returns to Gigg Lane after leaving the club at the end of the 2009-10 season to sign for Leyton Orient.

LURE

Once again, the lure of the Shakers' Carrington training complex played a huge part in securing Dawson's signature after he not only rejected new terms at the Iron but, according to several other reports, brushed aside interest from a host of clubs, including all three sides relegated from the Championship.

Shakers boss Lee Clark - who has also snapped up former Leeds, Everton and Preston hit-man Jermaine Beckford - said: "This is a huge signing for us. Stephen is a player that I have tried to entice at previous clubs, but I have finally got my man."