Stand-out attraction

EXCITEMENT is building and sales rising fast following a fans’ open day to show off the facilities in the new North Stand.

A thousand season tickets have already been sold for the unfinished £6.5million structure, which will significantly upgrade the matchday experience for supporters and business clients alike.

Fans queued out of the main reception door to take a look at the plans, with a slick video walk-through giving a computer-generated impression of what to expect at the start of the new season.

“The reaction has been really positive and it is coming to life now,” said Athletic’s commercial director Mark Moisley. “Having the animation has been really good as people can get a real sense of the experience.”

Athletic staff are primed for another busy day - a corporate event bidding to sell off the 11 executive boxes in the newly-named Oldham Event Centre. They would bring in another £160,000, while additional revenue will be generated through packages within the 100-capacity Broadway suite.

The stand will also boast the gleaming “1895 suite”, a 400-capacity bar open to all fans before the game, and two concourse bars..

“A lot of other clubs have fans’ bars,” Moisley added. “I was down at Crawley on Easter Monday and they have the Reds bar down there. It was great, with all the fans mixing together.

“Televisions will be on and all the live games will be shown beforehand, so hopefully we can get people down to the ground earlier to build up the atmosphere.”



Chairman Simon Corney is back at the club after flying in from the United States.

While there is no sign of an announcement about a new manager, current incumbent Dean Holden says after the final game against Peterborough on Sunday there will be an open meeting for staff ideas on ways the club can advance.

One item will be the progress of Athletic’s young players. Jack Tuohy, Devante Jacobs and Danny Byrnes have been offered terms for next season, and the club is keen to avoid this season’s situation, in which first-years Jordan Bove and Jack Truelove have hardly played at all.

Talks are believed to be taking place with one local club about an arrangement to take and develop Athletic’s young players on loan.

“Everything is open for discussion,” said Holden, who is likely to preach an emphasis on developing players, particularly in view of poor returns from highly-paid loan players under his charge.

“It is about laying all the cards on the table and for me, it is really important that everyone can air their views and have their say.”

twitter: @Matt_Chambers_