Browse Sections

• Oldham Athletic FC
• Oldham Roughyeds'
• Local football
• Local cricket

Loan ranger?

Carl Marsden
29/10/2003

LATICS boss Iain Dowie is stepping up the search for players to strengthen his squad ahead of this weekend's trip to Plymouth Argyle.

The Football League has given Dowie the green light to bring in a goalkeeper and one other player - likely to be a striker or centre-half - in the light of the club's latest injury problems.

The losses of David Eyres (foot) and Chris Killen (hamstring) - along with Mark Hudson's return to Fulham - have again stretched Dowie's tiny resources.

He said: "The question was put to the administrators and the wage I was allowed to pay would have done well to attract someone from the Ryman League. But to be fair, the potential investors had a word and I think they have managed to increase that amount.

"It's difficult because you find yourself pleading with managers more fortunate than yourself to let you steal their players and pay virtually none of their wages."

Dowie's loan targets remain a closely-guarded secret but it is known that he has tried to bring Fitz Hall, Clint Hill and Chris Armstrong back to Boundary Park while awaiting Newcastle's decision on whether to extend Calvin Zola's loan period. which expires after the match at Home Park.

Dowie said: "Plymouth are going fantastic and scoring good goals. They have basically kept the same side from last year and it will be a tough encounter."

• ADMINISTRATORS PKF say the club's mystery American-based backers are close to making a decision on a takeover.

PKF's Paul Ashworth said: "I'm expecting another face-to-face meeting with them before their exclusivity clause expires on November 6.

"By then we either need to extend that arrangement to fund November or we'll know they don't want to proceed. However, the last time we spoke their language was very positive."