Things are looking good - Corney

Athletic chairman Simon Corney: season’s looking good

SIMON CORNEY says there could be movement out of the club this summer – but he doesn’t expect Liam Kelly to be involved.

Speaking from New York, the Athletic chairman said returning winger Lee Croft has “never looked in better shape”, richly-talented George Green has the potential to be a major hit, and Jake Cassidy is a hungry young striker capable of hitting a rich seam of goals.

Defenders are now the priority for Corney and his manager Darren Kelly. Current fringe players could be shipped out in favour of replacements.

Despite reported interest from Barnsley, Corney believes skipper Kelly will remain to boost a squad he believes is already strong: “We intend to keep Liam Kelly. He is an integral part of our team,” Corney said.

“If anything were to happen, as with anyone, it would have to be right for the club and right for the player. But we will do everything we can to keep him here, and I believe he will stay.”

Corney plans to be back in Oldham early next week, but expressed his appreciation for manager Darren Kelly work to sign the players who have so far boosted the most settled squad in years.

“We are very pleased with the manager’s acquisitions; he has done his homework,” added Corney. “He knew about Lee Croft already and we did very well to get George Green - there were five clubs in for him, including two in the Championship.

“George met Darren and after hearing about his plans went back to his agent and said he wanted to play for him.

“Jake Cassidy is young and hungry and the type of player we are in the market for. We simply aren’t going to get a 25-goal striker on our budget, but in Jake we have a player capable of scoring a lot of goals, and he has a great work ethic. We also have one or two others up our sleeve.”



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