Mark Bonner Signs for Oldham Athletic

Oldham-bound
By Chris O'Brien
March 25 2004

City's Mark Bonner has signed for Second Division side Oldham Athletic until the end of the current season. The midfielder was told by Lennie Lawrence that he was free to find a new club last week.

Cardiff City midfielder Mark Bonner, who was told by Bluebirds boss Lennie Lawrence that he was free to find a new club last week, has agreed terms with Second Division side Oldham Athletic, signing a contract until the end of the current season.

Oldham boss Brian Talbot will evaluate how Bonner has done at the end of the campaign before deciding whether or not to offer him a new contract. He's expected go straight into the Latics squad for Saturday's visit of Wycombe Wanderers. The Lancashire outfit currently sit 17h in the table after a disappointing season, particularly with the financial problems at the club, and are still in serious danger of dropping into the Third Division.

Defensive midfielder Mark Bonner has given good service to the Bluebirds since his free transfer from Blackpool during the pre-season of the 1998/1999 campaign. He has made over 150 appearances in the City jersey and played important roles in 3 promotions in 1999, 2001 and 2003. The 29-year-old enjoyed a brief spell in the first-team earlier in the season, but he has been struggling to get into contention for a place in the starting line-up recently. Yeovil Town have been linked with Bonner for a while, so a move to the ambitious West Country outfit in the near future would not come as a huge surprise.

Good luck to Bonner, who gave us some excellent service.