Oldham Athletic

Midfielder Dabo sacked by Oldham
Oldham have terminated the contract of midfielder Moussa Dabo following "a number of breaches of contract". The 25-year-old Frenchman joined the Latics on a two-year deal from Racing Club Paris last summer, but he failed to make a first-team appearance. The club decided to cancel his contract in mid-March, but were unable to announce the move as Dabo had lodged an appeal with the Football League. However, he has now decided not to proceed with the appeal. That decision was taken following discussions with the Professional Footballers' Association. Dabo is the brother of Manchester City player Ousamane Dabo.

Oldham eye meeting with AWOL Hall
Oldham want to set up a meeting with striker Chris Hall to discuss the 20-year-old's future at Boundary Park. Hall has been AWOL since early May, failing to show up for treatment on his broken leg, with the Latics fining him two weeks' wages last week. Oldham unsuccessfully tried to contact Hall by phone and letter, but have now managed to get in touch with his agent. A statement on their website said: "We have made contact with the agent and are setting up a meeting with Chris." It added: "These talks are aimed at ascertaining where the forward's problems lie, and if the club can assist in any way with resolving these." Hall broke his leg in a training ground challenge in March which ended his season, having scored three goals in 23 appearances.

Oldham set to hold Wright talks
Oldham will open talks with left-back Alan Wright over a deal next week after the veteran defender impressed boss John Sheridan in a trial period. Wright, 35, is available on a free transfer after being released by Sheffield United last season. He played 90 minutes in the Latics' 2-1 defeat at Rochdale on Tuesday night. Sheridan told the club website: "He did okay against Rochdale considering he's only been with the lads two days. He's got experience and is a fine player." Wright had a loan spell with Nottingham Forest last season.

Kilkenny switch is finally sealed
Birmingham midfielder Neil Kilkenny's protracted loan move to Oldham has finally been completed. The deal had been put on hold after the Blues pulled out of a £3m deal to sign another midfielder, Hossam Ghaly from Tottenham, the previous week. But after Bruce signed Johan Djourou from Arsenal, former Arsenal trainee Kilkenny, 21, has now joined the Latics on loan until 1 January. Kilkenny played in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Swansea at Boundary Park. He is also eligible to turn out for John Sheridan's side in the Carling Cup. Kilkenny previously spent a six-month spell with Oldham during the 2004/05 season. He made 25 appearances for the Blues in the 2005/06 Premiership campaign, but started just two games last season.

Remorseful Hughes makes apology
Oldham striker Lee Hughes has made a public apology on returning to football after his release from jail. The former West Bromwich Albion player, 31, signed a two-year deal with Oldham after three years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving. "This is the first time I've been able to make a public apology. I hope for a chance to rebuild my life," he said. Hughes was jailed in 2004 for causing the death of father-of-four Douglas Graham in Meriden, near Coventry. The striker played for Kidderminster Harriers, Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion during a promising career before his imprisonment. His trial at Coventry Crown Court was told how he crashed his £100,000 Mercedes sports car into Mr Graham's vehicle while driving home after a post-match drink. He fled the scene of the crash on foot to avoid a breath test and did not turn himself into police for 36 hours. Hughes, who has now joined League One side Oldham, said: "I'm acutely aware of my actions, which resulted in the death of one person and serious injury to others." The striker said he did not want to talk about his offence out of respect for the family of the victims involved. "In going some way to facing my responsibilities I have met with a relative of the man who died, and what was said will always remain a private and personal matter," he said. "For different reasons I think we were both glad that the meeting occurred." Hughes added: "After today I do not intend to discuss or make comment about the events which led to my imprisonment. "I have made this decision, not out of protection for myself, but with regard to the privacy and respect for the families involved. "I made dreadful mistakes and decisions that will live with me for the rest of my life. "It also greatly affected my immediate family, including my wife and children, and I will never forgive myself for this." Hughes praised the way Oldham acted in persuading him to join them, even though other clubs were interested in his services, and said he wanted to help repay them on the pitch. "Turning to the reason I am here, I am grateful to Oldham for giving me the chance to resurrect my career," he said. "Negotiations have been going on for months and I can tell you that other clubs, some in the Championship, wanted me to join them." Hughes also insisted he is determined to carry out community work to help others avoid the mistakes he has made. "Whilst it is not part of my contract it has always been my intention to do some community work centred on the mistakes I have made, in the hope that it can go some way to preventing another tragedy occurring," said Hughes. "I truly want to do this and will be visiting schools, colleges and other football clubs to speak to young people. "If by doing this I help or persuade people not to make the mistakes I have made I will be a happier person. "I am prepared to take responsibility for anything that comes my way during my re-entry into the football world. "Out of respect for those families concerned, including my own, I would ask that I be allowed only to comment in the future about football matters and rebuild my life around the job I do. "To the Oldham fans, I am here to help the club achieve its ambitions and hope you can help along the way." But the player's return was criticised by Albert Frisby, who was injured in the crash which led to Hughes being sent to prison. "He has got no remorse," said Frisby. "To me he is very arrogant and ignorant. "I've just got no time for the fellow. The only people I feel sorry for are his two kiddies. "They've got to suffer the abuse that he's going to be called, or whatever, so it's just devastation all round."

Defender Hazell makes Oldham move
Oldham boss John Sheridan has strengthened his squad with the capture of left-sided defender Reuben Hazell. The 28-year-old, who was a free agent after leaving Chesterfield at the end of last season, has signed an initial one-month deal at Boundary Park. Hazell spent two seasons at Chesterfield and made 80 appearances for the club. Prior to that, the defender had spells with Tranmere and Torquay after starting his career at Aston Villa.

Council rejects Oldham ground bid
Oldham Athletic have been dealt a blow after the borough council's planning committee rejected their proposals to redevelop their Boundary Park stadium. Councillors unanimously accepted plans to upgrade the Broadway Stand. But they then voted against granting outline planning permission for the rest of the stadium by a margin of seven votes to four. "This diabolical decision beggars belief," Latics chief executive Alan Hardy told his club's website. "To say a cloud hangs over Boundary Park is not an understatement. "This is the culmination of four years of hard work, with our planners working hand in hand with the council's over the last 12 months. We were led to believe we'd done things right. "The development we'd planned would help to take both the football club and the town foward, but it's clear Oldham Council don't want that. "They have seen the death of Watersheddings, and now they could see the death of Boundary Park." Watersheddings was the home until 1997 of Oldham Roughyeds rugby league club, who now groundshare at Boundary Park. The council's reasons for rejecting planning permission were doubts over figures in a traffic survey, as well as the large scale of the development and the loss of open space and amenities. Opened in 1904, Boundary Park currently has a capacity of 13,264. Club director Barry Owen added: "As the fans' representative on the board, I am ashamed to be a resident of the town in whcih I was born. "The committee's decision now puts the club's future in serious doubt." Oldham defender Reuben Hazell has signed a new contract keeping him at Boundary Park until the summer of 2009. Hazell, 28, has made eight first-team appearances since joining on a month-to-month contract in September.

Holness extends stint at Rochdale
Oldham defender Marcus Holness has extended his loan spell at Rochdale. The Latics have given Rochdale permission to keep the centre-back for a third month. Football League rules stipulate that a player can stay with a club on a short-term loan deal for a maxiumum period of three months. That means that if Dale want to keep Holness when his latest loan period ends next month they will need to sign him on loan for the rest of the season.

Sheridan bemused by sendings-off
Oldham boss John Sheridan was surprised to see both sides finish with 10 men as they won 3-2 at Millwall. The Lions' Jay Simpson and Oldham's Neal Eardley were both shown second yellow cards for goal celebrations. "They were never red cards in my eyes, but that's the rules - I'm just pleased we've ended up winning," he said. "It's ridiculous - their lad has scored a goal and should celebrate it. Then, Neal's been sent off just for clenching his fists in celebration of our goal."

Barrow recruit Oldham midfielder
Oldham midfielder Ashley Kelly has joined Blue Square North side Barrow on a month's loan. Kelly signed a one-year professional deal with the Latics in the summer of 2007 but has not appeared in the first-team this season. Barrow boss Darren Sheridan, the brother of the Oldham boss John, has put Kelly straight into Barrow's squad to face Southport on Saturday. Kelly, 19, is a product of the Boundary Park youth system. He had a loan spell earlier this season at Leigh RMI.

Rochdale seal signing of Holness
Rochdale have clinched the permanent signing of Oldham youngster Marcus Holness on a free transfer. The 19-year-old defender has signed a two-and-a-half year contract after completing a three-month loan spell. Chairman Chris Dunphy told his club's website: "The signing of Marcus shows our commitment to signing and developing good young players." Meanwhile goalkeeper Lloyd Rigby, 20, has joined Vauxhall Motors on loan for the rest of the season. Holness came through Oldham's academy as captain of their Under-18 side and played 10 times for Dale on loan.

Argyle bid for Oldham's Trotman
Oldham Athletic have confirmed they have received an undisclosed offer from Championship side Plymouth Argyle for defender Neal Trotman. Latics chief executive Alan Hardy revealed to SSB the Devon club had made an approach but no fee had been agreed. Newspaper reports claimed Argyle had offered £350,000 for the 20-year-old. The Pilgrims broke their club transfer record by signing Cardiff striker Steve MacLean earlier this month.

Pogliacomi in fresh injury doubt
Oldham Athletic goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi could be out for the rest of the season after suffering fresh injury problems. The 31-year-old has been troubled by recurring knee problems after losing his first team place to Mark Crossley. The Australian has not played for the first team this campaign and broke down in training earlier this week. It means Latics could be without six first-team players for the visit of Gillingham this weekend. Sean Gregan and Andy Liddell are both recovering from achilles surgery while John Thompson, JP Kalala and Lee Hughes are also on the sidelines.

English clubs eye keeper Fleming
Crewe Alexandra and Oldham Athletic are among the clubs chasing the signature of Gretna goalkeeper Greg Fleming, according to coach Andy Smith. "Greg has been training with other clubs," Smith said after Fleming starred in a 0-0 draw with St Mirren. "Crewe and Oldham are two from England, but the phone has been busy regarding Greg as he is going to be a very good goalkeeper and an asset." A number of scouts watched Gretna with the club on the brink of liquidation. "There were a few up from England and the boys will have done themselves no harm with that performance," said Smith. The Gretna coach picked out on-loan Sheffield United right-back Kyle Naughton for special praise. "He has done well up front for us, but Sheffield United sent him up as a defender and we felt it was only right to play him there again," he said. "I thought he was certainly our best individual - he was outstanding." Smith was still hopeful that a buyer could be found for the ailing club, who will be relegated to Division One if they survive until next season. "Our last game is on Tuesday and we have been told that if nobody has bought the club by Saturday, they will shut the doors on Monday," he said. "It will be sad if it happens. There has been no formal bid, but a week is a long time in football and we must hope there are people out there who can sort it out."

Whitaker chooses Latics over Vale
Danny Whitaker has ended his long contract saga at Port Vale by moving to Oldham Athletic on a two-year deal. Having turned down multiple contract offers, Whitaker had until 17 June to commit his future to the Valiants. But the 27-year-old midfielder has instead decided to move to Oldham, becoming Latics boss John Sheridan's fifth signing of the summer. During his two seasons at Vale Park, Whitaker became a major midfield force, scoring 15 goals in 92 appearances. Oldham had already sealed the signings of four new players this summer, Bury midfielder Dale Stephens, Rotherham United striker Chris O'Grady, former Gretna goalkeeper Greg Fleming and teenage Manchester United utility man Kieran Lee.

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