Latics facing £80,000 hit

ALAN HARDY... weather watch.

Freeze puts pressure on players’ wage bill
ATHLETIC stand to forfeit up to £80,000 of cash flow over the next two weeks as a result of the big freeze — and two further Boundary Park postponements will make it tough to pay the players’ wages.

Chief executive Alan Hardy issued the warning after learning that the long-range weather forecast not only puts a huge question mark over this Sunday’s Boxing Day clash with Carlisle, but also the derby against visiting Rochdale on Monday, January 3.

At this stage, temperatures are not due to rise to above zero before the latter fixture.

Cash flow is already stretched at the club after the home npower League One game against Swindon Town was called off two weeks ago.

And two more postponements would have a major short-term effect.

“If you take the two games on Boxing Day and against Rochdale, they would normally be the best attended of the season,” Hardy said. “They are vital in terms of our cash flow.

“With no revenue coming in it means it is difficult to pay the wage bill and meet the other demands on the club.”

Hardy will today discuss the situation regarding the pitch with head groundsman Lee Williams.

At present, hundreds of tons of snow are acting as an insulation against the worst of the frost.

But a snow-clearing operation — which could take place as late as Boxing Day morning — would require an army of volunteers.

And given the cold temperatures, even when the snow has been cleared away the pitch could re-freeze very quickly.

In the event of further postponements, Athletic would recoup some of the lost £80,000 back when the games are eventually played out.

But the bleak immediate prognosis would seem to increase the chances of players being transferred out of the club when the transfer window reopens in January.

A host of scouts have watched Athletic’s promising young side in action this season.