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Jack Byrne has refused to bite back at Oldham Athletic, who sullied his name and character before his contract was terminated last month. And the Irishman, who is desperate to feature for Kilmarnock against boyhood heroes Celtic today, insists his conscience is clear.
Byrne was booted out of the Latics’ first-team squad and forced to train with the kids after allegedly breaching club rules. Boss Frankie Bunn and owner Abdullah Lemsagam publicly criticised the 22-year-old for being unprofessional.
But Byrne says it was all about money, after Oldham’s relegation to League Two, because he was one of the best-paid players at the club.
He said: “I can’t really say anything on the matter. The club don’t want me to. But my conscience is clear, 100%. “I think most people down there know what went on.
“They got relegated, I was probably one of the higher earners and they needed me to go.
“I needed to go as well to further my career. That was all it was. There wasn’t anything else to it.
“But it probably could have been handled a little bit better. It is what it is, that’s football.
“They criticised me, but that’s people trying to force your hand to do something you don’t maybe want to do at the time. “Maybe it was to get something over the line that benefits the club more than the player. That’s all that is, I think.”
Life has been turbulent for the attacking midfielder, who came through Manchester City’s academy just behind Dedryck Boyata and nearly signed for Hearts last January.
He had a good loan spell with Cambuur in Holland, but a disastrous time at Blackburn and then a short-lived move to Wigan preceded his time at Oldham,
But he is hoping that a fresh start at Killie can kick-start his career.
Byrne said: “I probably should have stayed in Holland for an extra year. I did well there, broke into the Ireland squad and then went to Blackburn on loan.
“I was told I was going to play as a No. 10. But when I went there, they played 4-4-2 under Owen Coyle and I don’t think it suited my style of play. “Wigan came for me in January last year, but Warren Joyce was sacked a month later when I was just getting back fit and into the team. “Wigan tried to do a swap deal with Hearts for Jamie Walker – in January this year – but it didn’t materialise and I ended up going to Oldham. “But I’m here now, playing under a really good manager. I’m just looking to learn, and to try to get my career back on a steady track again.”