Robinson considers options as Hughes hopes fade

New Oldham Athletic manager Stephen Robinson at SportsDirect.com Park

IRONS are in the fire when it comes to Athletic securing new centre-backs, though the prospects of Aaron Hughes signing appear to be receding.

The veteran defender (36), once of Newcastle, Aston Villa and Fulham, is currently weighing up his options and could choose to retire.

Time is not a commodity Athletic manager Stephen Robinson has too much of as he plays catch-up in putting together a new-look squad, though, and he is also examining alternative options to the 103-cap Northern Ireland international.

"We are in talks with other centre-backs as well as with Aaron," Robinson said. "I have the utmost respect for Aaron and he is a top professional.

"While he does want to play for me, I am having to push him for an answer."

Hughes, who starred for Robinson's Northern Ireland side in France, played for Melbourne City last season.

In the market for specialist centre-backs - only George Edmundson and Jamie Stott fit that description within the existing squad -Robinson continues to work hard on new signings and held a meeting with one new prospective addition yesterday morning.

"Potentially, we will have another four on board by Monday or Tuesday," he added.

One defender who has been training with the club has a slight hamstring injury and won't be risked for the opening friendly against Huddersfield tomorrow, in which Athletic will field a squad of 17 or 18 players while giving most a 50-minute run-out.

It will be Robinson's first contest as a manager and he will be assisted by assistant Ian Baraclough in the dug-out, with Carlo Nash as goalkeeping coach.

"I will be fielding what side I can put out," said Robinson, who has now shed his squad of trialists save for Lee Croft.

"It is no secret it has probably come a bit soon for us.

"The young boys will get a game, but we don't want to kill the lads in the first game."

Nine new signings are expected to feature against the Championship side: Connor Ripley, Chris Kettings, Josh Law, Jamie Reckord, Ryan Flynn, Marc Klok, Luke Woodland, Billy Mckay and Lee Erwin.

Athletic (from):Ripley (GK), Kettings (GK), Mantack, Brown, Law, Wilson, Edmundson, Stott, Reckord, Byrnes, Knight, Flynn, Croft, Klok, Winchester, Woodland, Cassidy, Mckay, Erwin.