Poleon’s Latics future in doubt - Kelly

Photo: PICTURES by ALAN HOWARTH.

Athletic forward Dominic Poleon has “not met the standards required to be a professional”, says manager Darren Kelly.

DOMINIC Poleon will not be considered for selection tomorrow after failing to meet the club’s standard of professionalism.

Manager Darren Kelly, who could welcome back Jonathan Burn, Joseph Mills and Carl Winchester to the squad to face Bradford, has cast adrift former Leeds man Poleon but would not specify the issue.

The Chronicle understands that after missing a training session on Monday, Poleon was told to join the youth team the next day, but didn’t appear. He is thought to have reported ill at some stage.

“I don’t want to go into details,” Kelly said. “But we have procedures of how things should be done and they weren’t met. We want to be professional and do things right. High standards are required.”

Poleon last week attracted loan interest from Scotland, but a move didn’t materialise. It remains to be seen whether his Athletic career can now be rescued.

Asked whether the player could move out when the emergency loan window opens next week, Kelly said: “Possibly. There have been a couple of things there, but nothing to suggest it will push through further. But that could change.”

As for those men who could feature tomorrow against Bradford, Kelly hinted that former Bantams winger Mark Yeates may play a part after being one of the brighter performers in the midweek loss at Shrewsbury.

Winchester was due to train today after a slight groin strain, as was Mills, who took a knock to an ankle in the Bury game that forced him out at Greenhous Meadow.

Burn (hamstring) is expected to be fine to slot back in at centre-back in place of rookie George Edmundson.

Kelly hopes preparations for tomorrow will run more smoothly than for Tuesday’s game, when five players needed fitness tests on the day. He believes his system of one main striker will be effective.

“With the injuries, I couldn’t even have a team picked at 12 o’clock on the Tuesday,” revealed Kelly.

“The formation we play and can adapt to, when it is done right can be very effective. At Bury it worked, but if I’m being honest it can work better.”

Eoghan O’Connell, who signed on loan from Celtic this week, comes into the squad, with Kelly stating that the youngster can operate at right-back and in defensive midfield as well as at centre-back.


NEW car parking arrangements are available for Athletic fans starting with the Bradford game tomorrow.

As part of the development of the area around the new North Stand, parking space at the club is severely restricted. The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is allowing the club to use a section of its new staff car park on Westhulme Avenue, off Westhulme Way (to the rear of B & Q) for fans to park in

There are 300 free places, first-come, first-served