Bove move part of new Latics ethos

JORDAN Bove will feature for the first time for his new club Ashton United this weekend — and he won’t be the last Latics player to join a local non-league side.

Bove (19), has been loaned out to the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier club until September 4 and is set to make his debut in Saturday’s opening clash to Mickleover Sports.

With Athletic again running without a reserves team, the club will send players out on loan to get time on the pitch. Athletic bosses have been establishing partnerships with local non-league outfits, allowing close monitoring of progress.

The move will avoid situations like last year, in which Bove and Jack Truelove needed international clearance to be loaned out to Colwyn Bay.

“The young players need to be playing and not simply training,” said Athletic academy manager Tony Philliskirk. “We have been arranging for these boys to be out playing’s football, where three points is at stake.”

Teenage striker Bove made four appearances for Athletic as a substitute last season, scoring once in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Bradford. As well as Colwyn Bay, he also had a spell out on loan at Hyde FC.