Big thank-you

Gregan’s tribute on leaving Latics 

FLEETWOOD Town is about to become the new permanent home for ex-Athletic captain Sean Gregan.

There had been a school of thought that with first-choice centre-back Jean-Yves Mvoto picking up an ankle injury, the 36-year-old could be ready to make a dramatic return to Boundary Park once his temporary loan spell with the Blue Square Bet Premier outfit was over on January 19.

But both club and player have decided to go theIR separate ways once and for all, with the former Preston man agreeing to terminate a contract with Athletic which ran until the end of the 2010-11 campaign.

Gregan, who made 140 appearances for the club over four years, scoring twice, paid tribute to the fans (see Page 38) and also the club’s directors.

“The board have been as good as gold with me and I want to give special mention to (chief executive) Alan Hardy and (chairman) Simon Corney,” said Gregan, who is set to finalise a deal with Fleetwood today which will keep him at the Highbury Stadium for the remainder of this season.

“They have both been very supportive on and off the field, particularly when I had problems of various kinds in my life two years ago.

“A real big thank-you goes out to them both.”

Gregan leaving may not be the only piece of business to be concluded by Athletic today.

There are hopes that a couple of current on-loan players will have their deals extended, while Joe Jacobson may be on his way to a new club after finishing a month at Accrington.

One player who has definitely left Boundary Park is goalkeeper Tamas Floszman, who has returned to Honved after he was unable to force a regular place in the reserve team.

Meanwhile, Rochdale have decided not to appeal defender Scott Wiseman’s dismissal in Monday’s 2-1 derby win at Athletic.

The right-back received a straight red card for a foul on Cedric Evina after 85 minutes but, after speaking to referee Anthony Taylor and watching video footage of the incident, the decision has been taken to accept the punishment of a three-match ban.

Wiseman will start his suspension with Saturday’s trip to Dagenham.




League Two promotion-chasers Port Vale have appointed former Stockport boss Jim Gannon as their manager on a a one–and–a–half year contract.



Gannon (42), who led County to promotion from the fourth tier of English football in 2007–08, succeeds Micky Adams in the Vale Park hotseat after the latter left to take over at Sheffield United last week.




ATHLETIC’S postponed Boxing Day home clash with Carlisle United has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 15 (7.45pm kick-off).