Latics lose Tarkowski bonus

JAMES TARKOWSKI . . . switch to Burnley for an intitial fee of £3million.

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ATHLETIC have missed out on a huge cash windfall with the revelation that the club bought out the sell-on clause for James Tarkowski before his multi-million transfer to Burnley.

The transfer window closed yesterday with no fresh signings to bolster boss John Sheridan’s relegation-threatened squad. Extensions to the loans of Burnley duo Cameron Dummigan and Daniel Lafferty were the only business done before the 11pm deadline.

Athletic cashed in months ago on a sell-on clause included in the deal that took Tarkowski (23) to Brentford two years ago. The club is believed to have taken around £150,000 in lieu of the clause.

Tarkowski’s move back north for a fee starting at £3million and rising to potentially double that figure could have cost Athletic up to £500,000 — just under a third of the budget for the whole squad for the season. The deal is believed to have been done to help pay for the North Stand.

Manager Sheridan — who wanted a striker and midfielder — worked hard to get new players to the club, but fell short. The window re-opens for emergency loan deals in seven days.

Sheridan can at least count on Dummigan and Lafferty for this Saturday’s home clash with relegation rivals Blackpool.

Right-back Dummigan will remain at SportsDirect.com Park until the end of the season, while Lafferty (26) has joined Athletic for a third and final month on loan.

Meanwhile, Newport County has complained to the Football League over Athletic's approach for Sheridan, who left the League Two club three weeks ago.



ATHLETIC’S game at Peterborough United will now be on February 23. The clash was originally re-arranged for February 9, but has been switched doe to Peterborough’s involvement in the FA Cup