Latics boss death threat

Darren Kelly: police probe threats against him and club

POLICE are investigating death threats sent to Oldham Athletic following the appointment of new manager Darren Kelly.

A letter allegedly urged the board to sack Kelly by June 1, or he would be shot dead. The letter is believed also to have threatened the safety of owner Simon Corney and other directors.

A club statement said the threats had been passed to police.

Det Insp Mark McDowall of GMP’s Oldham Division said: “I understand incidents like this can cause tension in the local community, but I would like to assure everybody that we take matters like this very seriously and an investigation is now underway.”

Kelly, a defender who played at Carlisle, York and Scarborough, appeared on BBC Radio Manchester last night with Latics director Anthony Gee.

When asked about the death threats, Kelly said he would rather concentrate on football. But when pressed he said talk of him being an IRA-supporter was “absolute nonsense”. He moved to England 15 years ago, both his wife and two sons are English and he has in-laws and friends in the British Army.

Claims about his political allegiances have been “hurtful”, he confirmed.

The 35-year-old Derryman joined Athletic last Monday and fans were quick to pick up on a tweet that apparently labelled former IRA-leader Martin McGuinness a “legend”. His account has since been deleted.

Fans are invited to a Meet the Manager night with Kelly on Thursday at the club’s O2 Business Suite.