FRANKIE Bunn has taken the lead – and is holding his sorry outstretched hands up.

“It’s my fault,” was the resounding statement following the abject 3-1 defeat to Carlisle yesterday.

Bunn isn’t in the wages office – there’s no official line on the salary situation – but it’s clear there’s an issue.

Pitiful, weak, half-hearted and lethargic were a select few words uttered around Boundary Park as Latics – who were once wagging their tail in confident fashion – curled up and retracted into a shell of a side who had seemed so cock-sure of troubling opponents.

Nothing to do with pay packets, you understand . . . just so we’re clear.

Athletic sat, had a little lie down then pathetically begged for a share of the spoils with the kind of puppy-dog eyes only a makeshift kennel lacky would see through.

At 3-0, John Sheridan’s charges eventually threw a bone which nowhere near looked like being fetched, despite Ishmael Miller’s late consolation.

As for Bunn and poor Ned – his faithful little Cavachon hound who will have sore paws today after being dragged all over their familiar stomping ground in Uppermill last night – it’s time to take this job by the scruff of the neck.

Speaking to The Oldham Times, Bunn said: “It hurts. You can ask my wife or my kids. That hurt won’t go away until the next win and that’s how it is. I care for this club.

“I’m proud of this club and the players – they have come through a lot of adversity already this season.

“We’re a strong-knit group. We’ve lost one game poorly at home but it’s not the end of the world.

“It’s been a bad day at the office but lessons will be learnt.

“We can’t mope around. The lads have been terrific up until yesterday and I’ll take responsibility for that performance.”

Bunn often thinks things through with Ned, who he talks to on long countryside walks - especially when he’s not treated with three points.

“We’re learning all the time – as is the dog,” added Bunn.

“Let’s just say Ned will be a tired dog by the end of this weekend without a doubt.”

Bunn, who opted for a surprise three-man backline comprising Sam Graham, Peter Clarke and George Edmundson, admitted it was a gamble that didn’t pay off.

“I’ll take the blame for that,” he said.

“It didn’t quite work out. We looked fearful on the ball. We’ve tried something but it hasn’t worked.”

Athletic are at Bradford City in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday – and with the Notts County match postponed due to international call-ups, the next league game is Port Vale at home on October 20.

Bunn said: “We knew there would be ups and downs and so we dust ourselves down and go again.”

Sit up – and take note. Latics are not about to lie down, regardless of some dog-tired talk of off-the-field financial wobbles.

There’s no cash point anywhere near Boundary Park . . . oh.