bozman

So that seems to make it pretty clear that Lemsagam would not be permitted to invest personally whilst retaining his current business. I 've seen it suggested elewhere that he might actually be arranging the investment on behalf of others and fronting negotiations, although I have absolutely no idea if that has any basis in fact.

I doubt it's as simple as Shez wanting or not wanting a player. It's probably more a disagreement about how best to allocate the budget. I'm pretty sure Shez rates Hunt highly, he said so often enough last season. However it may be the case that Corney has signed him on high wages, making a big dent in the budget. Where as Shez might have preferred to spend the money on a different player e.g a central midfielder and recruit a cheaper option for the left back position

I'd have though that, even if they do have 3 players called up, Charlton might opt to play the game anyway, given the form we're in. We might be on a much better run by the time the re-arranged game comes around.

Yeah, I read that. I wonder how much information the Chron had beforehand ? If it was something subtantial I'd have expected them to ask for an exclusive interview to break the news rather than let him to do it on the club website first.

Of course. I assumed the majority on here would understand that without having to spell it out.

It appears to be investment, rather than a sale, with Corney staying on as Chairman according to today's Chron. http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/10/oldham-athletic-news/105156/come-on-board

Thanks for that. I actually did a bit of my own research on this as, ironically, it's also relevant to a company I'm involved in at the moment. Apparently his obligation with regard to informing you of such matters depends on what is stated in the Articles of Association of the company. And good to hear they're letting the Trust rep back in the boardroom again now !

I don't think he has ever come out and volunteered information before. It's only been him responding to rumours/stories that have managed to gain a bit of traction beyond this message board and be reported in the Chron or other news outlets. And the stock line has been 'we're always talking to people and if/when there is anything concrete to tell the fans we'll let them know'. As others have pointed out, nobody had a source on this one. He could have kept it quiet if he wanted to. As good as our new social media guy is that was no Frost -Nixon interview. It took place because Corney wanted it to and he asked the questions that Corney wanted to answer. If it was a journalist doing that interview they'd probably have explored other issues too and have asked, for example, why French news outlets were reporting that a goalkeeper had signed a 2 year deal with us and said keeper's agent was posting pictures of him in Latics training gear captioned 'Deal Done'.

Is the chairman obliged to tell the trust if he plans to sell a percentage of his shares or would he only have to inform you if there was a new majority shareholder ?

Exactly what I was thinking. If we were within FFP rules last season, how have we breached it with less players? Are we paying Hunt, Duffus and Davies £20k a week each?

He's saved a Zlatan penalty. Sign him up now!

He's got a French passport. He has 7 caps for France U21s.

Yes. That Chron article is a pretty clear indication that the goal posts have moved. Where as Shez was saying he knows who he wants and he'll get them in soon a couple of weeks ago, he's now still saying he knows who he wants but doesn't know if he can get them, but he certainly won't do unless someone leaves first.

Might be just what he needs. Won't be able to afford to drink over there and well away from other temptations.

There seems to have been a distinct change in mood with regard to potential signings at the club over the last week or two. A couple of weeks ago Shez, after admitting he had believed we could sign Ripley, was still confidently predicting he'd have 2 keepers in place before the first game, now he's saying it may be difficult to get a number 2 in at all, "in the circumstances". Corney was talking about a couple of signings that would surprise fans and we were being linked with names like Jonathan Douglas and John Welsh. Now that's gone quiet and it's "trialists galore". Reading between the lines it feels like something has happenned that has resulted in a sudden downgrade in our recruitment ambitions.

Agreed. You could tell he was extremely frustrated. It was all the long pauses where he just about stopped himself saying what he was really thinking. You could tell there were things he wanted to say but knew he couldnt.

He's talked a load of rubbish in the past, that's for sure. But you have to ask, how did he get a photo of trialist no. 14 signing a contract in the club offices two days before it was announced ? That one wasn't just a lucky guess.

I'm sure that if he was going to go to the trouble of breaking in to Latics offices and kidnapping Gymalfi and Latics staff to stage a hoax signing photo to post on Twitter, he'd have roped Steve Marlet and Jonathon 'Jon ' Macken in to the prank and they'd have been stood in the background in their Latics training gear. I suspect this one is true. Although the contract length may be a guess.

I wasn't able to get to the game on Saturday so can't make a comment on the keeper based on my own opinion. But I did read a quote from Oxford's first goalscorer this morning saying that the keeper made the finish easier for him by moving to one side leaving a big gap at the near post.

Pretty sure he played left back for us. According to this article though Robinson says he can play left back, centre back and midfield. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/1364707/motherwell-confirm-signing-of-former-manchester-city-defender-ellis-plummer/

Yeah, actually I think you're right about that.

No, but I think the targets are assessed and veted by Nash, as they were last season. My point though is that if we're going to stretch ourselves trying to get Ripley ( let's face it, he'd be at the top end of the wage structure if we got him) it's inevitable that the back up will not be on anywhere near the same money or of similar ability, unless we get very lucky.

So would I but Kettings' sole appearance suggested otherwise last season.

Charles Dunne will be happy. Plenty of appearance money guaranteed for him this season.

Assuming we can put a credible deal together (big assumption, I know), I think this is a big problem for us in comparison to his other suitors. They all have other decent keepers they'd be happy to start the season with, so can afford to take their time and haggle over the deal. We need someone in the next 48 hours. Unless Shez is willing to bring a number 2 in now and risk having to play him for 3 or 4 games before we get a number 1.