Trotman’s thanks to Latics

NEAL TROTMAN can hardly wait for tomorrow’s return to Boundary Park.

The 22-year-old central defender, who is on a season-long loan at Southampton from Preston North End, admits he owes a large debt of gratitude to Athletic, the club at which he made his name.

Head of youth Tony Philliskirk recommended that Athletic take on Trotman after the teenager was released by Burnley.

And the player admits: “Athletic gave me the chance to make it professionally and to try to get a career out of football. I am very grateful for that.

“I knew I would have the chance to come back and, as soon as I went to Southampton, I was looking at the fixture list to see when we went to Oldham.

“I’ve spoken to two of the lads – Kelvin Lomax and Chris Taylor – who I am good mates with, and they are looking forward to it, too.”

Trotman, whose girlfriend Charlotte is an Oldhamer, spent most of the 2006/07 season on a week-to-week contract before landing a permanent deal.

Such was Trotman’s startling progress that after only 24 first-team appearances for Athletic he secured a £500,000 move to Preston in January, 2008.

Sadly, injuries have restricted Trotman – who also had a loan spell at Colchester last season – to only three senior games for Preston.

After being linked with a loan move back to Boundary Park, he was snapped up in August by Saints manager Alan Pardew, who secured his services for the 2009/10 season.

Trotman, who has formed a solid central-defensive partnership with Raidi Jaidi, the 34-year-old former Bolton and Birmingham City stopper, is enjoying life on the South Coast.

He said: “Southampton are a little bit bigger club than Athletic, and the facilities are a lot better.

“Athletic are still a great club to be around, though. The people are very good to you and make you feel at home.”

Amazingly, Saints and Athletic were both in the Premier League when they last met in 1994.

When Athletic entertained Saints, they won 2-1 with goals by Sean McCarthy and Mark Brennan.

Since then, it has been a downward spiral to the third tier of English football with both clubs having to endure spells in administration because of their dire financial situations.

Saints were in the Premier League until 2005 and two years before that they reached the final of the FA Cup.

Two relegations in four years have seen Saints plummet to Coca-Cola League One, whereas Athletic have been at that level since 1997.

Sadly for Athletic, Saints appear to be arriving at Boundary Park at precisely the wrong time.

After a turbulent opening to the campaign in which they kicked off on minus 10 points and failed to win a league match until mid-September, Saints are suddenly flying.

They have won their last three matches - two in the league, the other in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy - and have erased their points deduction.

It has been a long, hard struggle but manager Pardew’s newly-constructed side is finally looking like a team.

Despite being bottom of the table - they would be in the top half but for the points deduction - there is a new-found belief that Saints could challenge for a promotion play-off spot.

There are similarities between Pardew, who has brought in 10 new players, and Athletic boss Dave Penney, who has completely revamped his squad.

Pardew was forced to start virtually from scratch after Saints’ financial problems necessitated a summer exodus of players including Andrew Surman, David McGoldrick and Nathan Dyer.

Off the field, there is also much-needed stability following the take-over by Swiss businessman Markus Liebherr which was completed less than a month before the start of the new season.

Southampton’s ambition was underlined when they splashed out £1million for Bristol Rovers striker Ricky Lambert before the transfer window closed.

Lambert has found the net six times, but even he has been eclipsed by home-grown striker Adam Lallana, who is top scorer with eight goals.

FIXTURES

TOMORROW - Charlton v Huddersfield, Leyton Orient v Brentford, MK Dons v Gillingham, Athletic v Southampton, Southend v Bristol Rovers, Stockport v Millwall, Swindon v Hartlepool, Tranmere v Brighton, Walsall v Exeter, Wycombe v Colchester, Yeovil v Carlisle. MONDAY - Leeds v Norwich.