Oldham Athletic’s players were told on the eve of Saturday’s relegation clash with Crewe Alexandra that they weren’t going to be paid on time, the Oldham Evening Chronicle has today revealed.
More worryingly for Athletic fans is that this is not the first time this season that this has happened. It is no secret that Latics operate on a tight budget however this news will only serve to further aggravate fans who are growing disillusioned with the club’s chairman Simon Corney. Corney has been lambasted of late for seemingly accepting League One safety as opposed to harbouring any real aims of pushing the club forward and with the new North Stand still remaining incomplete, fans are justifiably wanting answers.
Indeed this news goes some way to explaining the completely inept performance at the weekend when Oldham lost their unbeaten away record at Gresty Road. The Latics players left the field to a chorus of boos and chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ and while not being paid doesn’t justify such a lacklustre performance, it will most certainly have been a factor.
Simon Corney has stated that players will be paid tomorrow which at least temporarily resolves the issue. However it’s just another dramatic episode in a year which has seen Oldham resemble a circus more often than a football club. The fans don’t demand success at Latics – we know in our current situation it would be irresponsible to do so. But it would be nice if the club could begin to act in a professional manner and paying employees on time (especially around the festive period) is surely not too much to ask of a professional business.
More than anything, this goes to show how important Saturday’s F.A Cup game at Sheffield United is. The potential of a money-spinning third round tie is huge for Oldham, both to renew fans’ interest in an otherwise redundant season but also, it would seem, in being able to pay staff’s wages on time in the months to come.
