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Cash boost too late to save Joe (first published 21 Nov 2002)

21/11/2002

CUP football is proving a timely cash boost to Oldham Athletic's battle to find the missing millions.

But the double boost came too late for teenage midfielder Joe Doran who became the third player to agree a settlement to terminate his contract.

With £2m required before the end of the season to keep Athletic afloat, club officials are delighted that Sky has chosen to show the FA Cup replay with Burton Albion live. Next Wednesday's match guarantees both sides £100,000 and follows Sky's decision to show Latics' Nationwide match at Cardiff City live on January 31 - worth another £10,000. All of this is in addition to the money made by the club's Worthington Cup run.

Chief executive Alan Hardy admitted that the club had only budgeted for one appearance in the competition this season. However, with victories at Derby County and West Ham United so far - and 45 per cent of the gate money from both games - it appears that the so-called 'Worthless Cup' is proving anything but.

Doran's departure means the club is still negotiatiating with six players as it bids to cut losses of £50,000 a week. Gary Kelly, Wayne Gill, Danny Boshell, David Reeves, John Sheridan and Stuart Balmer are still talking with Latics chiefs.

Of those Boshell has returned to Boundary Park after talks over a move to Scunthorpe United failed to come to fruition. Reeves is still on loan at Chesterfield who, despite the player's willingness to move back to Saltergate, cannot afford his wages.

Balmer remains on loan at Scunthorpe, Sheridan and Kelly are sidelined and Gill is injured, an all too familiar tale for the midfielder who has only played three games in 13 months.