Oldham Athletic face a late battle to clear the pitch at Sportsdirect.com Park ahead of their League One clash with Notts County on Saturday and are calling on fans to help.
The Latics sit 14th in the table, but are just three points off bitter rivals Rochdale in sixth place, and so still hold onto faint hopes of making the play-offs.
And after last Tuesday’s postponement against Rochdale and Saturday’s defeat to Gillingham, midfielder Mike Jones is desperate for the game to go ahead.
He said: “It was a bit of a blow at Gillingham but it has made us more hungry again and the lads are just itching for Notts County to come and to beat someone really well and kick on.
“Nobody wants to be 14th. If you are happy with 14th then you are in the wrong game. We want to be up there, in the top half and kick on.
“Play-offs is what we have always wanted and we’ve seen what is out in the league. There hasn’t been much between us and other teams. We have dominated games but now it is time to do that and take the points.
“We’ve got to put last week’s result behind us now and move on to Saturday against Notts County and they are a team we need to beat.”
The club are in urgent need of volunteers to help clear snow from the pitch. Can you help? #Snow #oafc pic.twitter.com/5IGaKxZNkr
— Oldham Athletic AFC (@OfficialOAFC) January 30, 2015
Heavy snowfall across the North-West has hampered Oldham’s preparations for today’s match, forcing them to call on fans to help clear the pitch.
Manager Lee Johnson also revealed the weather had prevented key players from training.
“Jonathan [Forte] was due to train today but he cannot get in due to being snowed in on his drive, as are seven or eight of the players, and they will make sure they go down to their local gym and we’ll have a good look at them tomorrow and we’ll see whether Jonathan is ready to start,” he said.
“Other than that, we have a clean bill of health. Rhys Turner is back. I really like Rhys but he’s been blighted by injuries but he’s still young and we are praying that he can have a clean run of health until the end of the season.”
With the January transfer window set to close on Monday night, the 33-year-old remains hopeful of further strengthening his squad.
The Latics signed Blackpool midfielder Jacob Mellis earlier in the month and this week secured the services of Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Jake Keane until the end of the season.
Colchester United striker Jabo Ibehre, who enjoyed a loan spell at Oldham earlier in the season, reportedly remains on Johnson’s radar.
“We are always looking,” said Johnson. “We are close to a couple but they keep hitting a bit of a snag here and there. There is no secret we are in the market and we want to sign a couple at least.”
Image courtesy of Oldham Athletic via YouTube, with thanks.
