Striker to be shown the door

ANDREW CROMPTON . . . the young striker, who was sent off in a recent youth-team game, won’t be offered a pro deal.

Club lose patience with Crompton
ANDREW Crompton will NOT be offered a professional deal with Athletic next season.

The once-promising forward was sent off for violent conduct while playing for the youth team against Maccles-field at the weekend — the latest in what is believed to be a string of disciplinary breaches, leading to the club’s hierarchy finally losing patience with the 18-year-old second-year scholar.

An FA ban of a minimum of three matches is forthcoming, keeping Crompton out of action until at least April 22.

But even after that ban expires, the Chronicle understands the player will not turn out for the club at any level again.

Crompton spent six months as a youth with Manchester United and turned out for Athletic earlier this season as an 85th-minute substitute in a Carling Cup tie at Scunthorpe. He has not been involved in first-team action since.

After the game at Glanford Park, Stretford-born Crompton was given an implied warning by manager Paul Dickov to knuckle down.

“He is a great prospect,” said Dickov at the time. “He has great ability, he is a finisher and has that great knack of being in the right place at the right time.

“What we need from him now is to step up to the plate a little bit. He knows what we expect throughout the club in terms of work-rate and application.”

Crompton was part of the side which reached the third round of the FA Youth Cup this season, starting in the 6-5 loss to Manchester City in mid-December.

He has scored 12 goals in 15 appearances for the youth team, plus two for the reserves.

Decisions over which second-year scholars will be given the opportunity to sign professional terms are expected to be made next week.

James Tarkowski appears to be one of the most likely of that group to be offered a contract given his impressive first-team efforts in recent weeks.


ATHLETIC chief executive Alan Hardy was representing the club at the Soccerex convention in Manchester today.
Speakers included German national team supremo Oliver Bierhoff, Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre and financial advisor to Plymouth Argyle, Peter Ridsdale.