Latics must hold their nerve
Reporter: Tony Bugby
Date published: 15 September 2009
ATHLETIC may be fourth from bottom in Coca-Cola League One, but there are still grounds for optimism at Boundary Park.
You only have to look back to 2006/07 when John Sheridan made an equally inauspicious start to his first season as manager.
Athletic won only one of their first six league matches under Sheridan yet they still went on to reach the play-offs.
New manager Dave Penney (pictured right) had an identical record, until Saturday’s last-gasp defeat at Bristol Rovers extended that to one victory in seven league matches.
Athletic’s fortunes, however, are in contrast to 12 months ago.
This time last year they were riding high and in the throes of an unbeaten start to their league campaign which stretched to early October.
But you only have to look at the statistics for 2009 to realise how their fortunes have dipped.
Athletic, who were third in late January, have played 30 league games so far this year, which have yielded just six victories and 30 points.
It has also been a year of great instability, with three managers in the last six months — Sheridan, Joe Royle and now Penney.
Sheridan’s achievements of finishing sixth and eighth in his two full seasons in charge cannot be underestimated. Athletic were also eighth in the table at the time of his departure.
But there is no denying they were in the midst of a worrying slump when Sheridan was sacked after a 6-2 rout at Milton Keynes Dons in mid-March.
Royle, who was named caretaker boss, was unable to halt the slide. He won only one of his nine games in charge as Athletic finished a disappointing 10th.
Penney’s appointment at the end of the season was followed by a massive overhaul of the playing squad, so much so that there were eight debutants against Stockport County on the opening day.
And, on the evidence of what we have witnessed so far, it looks like there will be no quick fix and it will take time for Penney to create a successful side.
There have been encouraging pointers in some of their play. But, by the same token, there are some glaring weaknesses which need addressing.
With finances limited, it won’t be easy as Athletic cut their playing budget from last season.
After a year of upheaval, what Athletic crave for is a period stability and for everybody, from the owners, management, players and fans, to hold their nerve.
This has happened at Bristol Rovers, where Paul Trollope took charge of the team in September 2005 and is the second longest-serving boss in League One.
The Pirates have had the odd wobble in the subsequent years, but Rovers have stuck by their man and are reaping the rewards as they lie third in the table.
