Robinson set for Latics job

IN THE HOT SEAT? . . . Steve Robinson (right) with Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill (centre) and kit manager Colin McGiggert at Windsor Park, Belfast.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

STEVE Robinson is set to be named as Athletic's new manager, putting an end to a prolonged hunt in what has become a wretched summer for the club's supporters.

The 41-year-old from Northern Ireland, who spent a long playing career mainly at Bournemouth and Luton, has been working as the assistant manager at Motherwell to Ian Baraclough.

Robinson was also on the coaching staff during Northern Ireland's successful Euro 16 campaign, having worked his way up through the age groups to become first-team coach to boss Michael O'Neill.

Now, potentially working under another former Cherries stalwart Sean O'Driscoll ­- who sat in on manager interviews this week ­- Robinson would face the monumental task ahead of creating a cohesive team virtually from scratch, with the opening game of the new season at Millwall only 31 days away.

James Wilson is the latest in a long line of last season's squad members to walk away from Athletic.

The centre-back (27) has signed for Sheffield United on a two-year deal, ending a two-and-a-half year association with the club in which he played 109 matches.

Wilson joins ex-captain Liam Kelly (Leyton Orient), Joel Coleman (Huddersfield), Jonathan Forte (Notts County) and Dominic Poleon (AFC Wimbledon) as first-team regulars to leave in recent weeks.

And another one of the stars of the late-season push to safety may also be headed elsewhere.

Timothee Dieng did not have an option taken up in his contract for 2016-17 and is understood to be on trial with Sky Bet League One rivals Bradford.

O'Driscoll took yesterday's training session at Chapel Road, assisted by Peter Shirtliff and with Carlo Nash, formerly of Manchester City and Preston as a player, on goalkeeper coach duties.

It is understood that there were a total of 16 trialists present, ahead of a first pre-season friendly with Huddersfield Town which is at SportsDirect.com Park on Saturday, July 16.

At present there are only six contracted professionals with first-team experience on the books: Connor Brown, George Edmundson, Brian Wilson, Carl Winchester, Jake Cassidy and Rhys Murphy.

Meanwhile, Athletic legend Rick Holden has hit out at the club.

In a post on facebook, the former winger said that while he had applied for the vacant manager's job he did not receive any acknowledgement back from the club.

"I would change everything at that club ­- which would work because what they have been doing over the last 20 years has revolutionised disaster," Holden wrote.