My time at Latics is over — Gregan

SEAN GREGAN: loan period ends in January.

Out of favour defender to cut club ties

SEAN Gregan has ruled out a playing return with Athletic in the New Year.

The 36-year-old centre-back has been on the coast at Fleetwood Town since being allowed to depart Boundary Park on loan at the end of October.

Last year’s team captain and player-of-the-year wasn’t getting a look-in under Athletic manager Paul Dickov and has since made six appearances for the go-ahead Blue Square Bet Premier outfit as they chase a place in the Football League.

Gregan’s loan deal at Fleetwood officially runs until January 19 of next year.

After that, his future is up in the air.

With no less than eight npower League One matches to play in January, there was a train of thought that he may return to Athletic to provide defensive reinforcement amid a flurry of fixtures.

But the former Preston, Leeds and West Brom player emphasised his wish to put his Athletic career firmly behind him.

“One thing is certain, there is nothing left for me at Oldham,” said Gregan, who played alongside another Athletic loan man Jon Worthington in his new club’s 1-1 draw with Newport on Saturday.

“I have been in the game long enough and gained enough experience to be able to recognise the warning signs and they were there when Paul Dickov came in.

“I have seen it happen to other players and it happened to me.

“I was disappointed. As captain and player-of-the-year, I think things could have been handled better.

“I would rather have been told straight away I wasn’t in his plans than have stuck around to see how the season panned out.

“It has happened now and it is time to move on.

“My loan ends on January 19 and I need to speak to Oldham and need to speak to Fleetwood to see what happens after that.

“But there is not much point in coming back to Oldham as fourth choice, playing in midweek matches against youth teams.

“And nothing has changed on that score.”

Of Dickov’s options at centre-back aside from first-choice pair Reuben Hazell and Jean-Yves Mvoto, Jason Jarrett is contracted until late January and Preston man Neal Trotman’s loan spell expires after the upcoming derby with Rochdale.

With outdoor facilities still frozen, the Athletic squad spent yesterday being put through their paces at Soccer Factory in Rochdale.