Hectic period faces Latics

HAVING sailed through the quiet, Athletic manager Paul Dickov faces a storm of activity on and off the field.

An enforced month-long period without action is set to come to an end with a visit to Hartlepool United on New Year’s Day, with promising prospects of the game at Victoria Park going ahead.

And after the home derby with Rochdale just two days later, the loan spells of three players — Arsenal’s Cedric Evina, Leeds United’s Aidan White and Preston’s Neal Trotman — come to an end.

Dickov is keen to keep all three men for a hugely-busy period featuring eight further matches inside 29 days.

But the situation of Trotman, in particular, is unclear given the sacking of Preston manager Darren Ferguson yesterday and with funds scarce, it is important that players currently out on loan remain off the wage bill.

“The manager is reviewing the situation,” said Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy. “There is also the financial aspect to take into consideration.”

other clubs

At present, Sean Gregan, Jon Worthington (both Fleetwood), Rob Purdie (Hereford), Deane Smalley (Chesterfield) and Joe Jacobson (Accrington) are out at other clubs on loan, as is the injured Kelvin Lomax (Chesterfield).

Worthington and Jacobson are due back at Boundary Park on January 3, Gregan on January 19 and Purdie, Smalley and Lomax on January 29.

Sunderland have the option of recalling season-long loan duo Oumare Tounkara and Jean-Yves Mvoto during the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, Athletic are appealing for volunteers to help lay covers in preparation for Monday’s derby.

An extra set of covers have been borrowed from Rochdale and they need to be put on the pitch tomorrow morning. Helpers are asked to arrrive at 11am tomorrow and then again at 8am on Monday morning to remove the covers in time for the game.

In the sole fixture in npower League One last night, leaders Brighton held on for a 1-1 draw at home with Charlton despite playing for 83 minutes with only 10 men.

The point gained increases the Seagulls’ lead at the top of the division to four points.