The 28-year-old front man, who has linked up with the Latics on a season-long loan deal before a provisional fee is confirmed between the Lancashire club and Sheffield United, his current employers, in May, turned down the Shrimpers to move to Boundary Park, although it certainly wasn’t for the want of trying on the Seasiders’ part.
Blues boss Steve Tilson was alerted to Beckett’s availability when Neil Warnock left him out of his plans for the 2005/6 season. “I knew I had no future at Sheffield United when I was transfer-listed at the end of last season,” Beckett revealed in an interview with the official Athletic website, www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. “The gaffer told me again that I didn’t figure in his plans when I went back for pre-season training. I was always hoping that the move to Oldham would come off, it was the obvious choice for me.”
However, there was a stage when Southend appeared to be in pole position to lank the marksman, as Latics assistant manager John Breckin disclosed. “It looked as though we had been priced out of a deal after Southend came up with an offer we couldn’t get anywhere near.” Whilst this is promising news in that chairman Ron Martin is prepared to offer good deals, in this case, Beckett had other ideas.
“I have always lived in Sheffield, even when I was single and playing for Chester,” the experienced striker said. “I have a young family and it would have been a big wrench to uproot them and move to Southend. I have put their happiness first.” Whilst some will inevitably mock Beckett for his choice, his parental preferences ought to be applauded in a day when lower League footballers are rarely faced with a monetary alternative.
Breckin was also thankful for the forward’s choice of clubs: “We had started to look elsewhere but when Luke turned down Southend we were able to revive the deal. And it is all credit to the owners and a measure of their ambition and also to the fans who agreed to pay extra money for their tickets to enable us to bring in the players we have.” Sadly, that extends to travelling Shrimpers supporters, who will have to pay more than home fans to enter Boundary Park this season.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com