Latics add firepower to promotion charge with attacker arrival

OLDHAM Athletic are set to make their first signing of the summer today as the club looks to build a side capable of earning promotion back to League One at the first attempt.

It is understood that Latics will be signing an attacking player, with Richie Wellens trying to add goals to the team.

Wellens is hoping to get his business done early, after previously airing his frustration over the club’s transfer dealings back in January.

Speaking then, Wellens said: “The transfer window was very frustrating. We agreed a deal with Matt Mills but he decided to go to Barnsley because we couldn’t give him an extra year on the contract.

“I thought he’d be an unbelievable signing but we couldn’t get it over the line.

“We bid early in the morning for Devante Cole and probably could have got that done if we were more aggressive and quicker. Wigan have more power and came in late in the day as Fleetwood basically let everyone know that we’d bid for him, so then Wigan came in and swooped.

“They’re the two I wanted. There was a chance for Joe Mason at Wolves but that wasn’t going to happen, and Omar Bogle I tried to get in but he was already on his way to Peterborough so we couldn’t gatecrash that one.”

Eoin Doyle was Oldham’s main source of goals during the latest campaign, finishing as the club’s top scorer.

With his loan spell now over, he will go back to parent club Preston North End, and isn’t expected to return to Oldham.

Craig Davies also enjoyed a decent season for Latics, netting 12 goals.

He was linked with moves away from Boundary Park during the January transfer window, and it is currently unknown whether other clubs will now show an interest in the striker following Oldham’s relegation to League Two.

Duckens Nazon impressed at Latics after his arrival in January, but again it was only for a brief loan spell.

Oldham hope that today’s signing will be the first of many in the coming weeks.

Wellens will also need to strengthen the defensive side of his team, after they conceded 75 goals last season.

Only fellow relegated side Northampton Town conceded more, with 77.

Oldham had Kean Bryan on loan from City, and he performed well during his time at Latics, leading to him winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award.

The future of captain Peter Clarke remains up in the air, after he spent the second half of the season on loan at local rivals Bury.

Oldham also remain in talks with several of their existing players over potential new deals.