Punch hole without compound path?

I have a shape where I then need to punch a hole in that shape. If I do that it then creates a compound path.
The problem is I am want to use the Area Type Tool to then paste some text within the shape - but it won't allow me to do that as you can't do that on a compound shape.
But what I would like to do is make the text flow in and around the shape I've created. So as you can see below I need to remove the triangle in the center so the text flows around to form the letter A.
Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

greencode,
You could cheat and create two shapes, the upper one ending at the bottom of the counter (the hole) i the A (You may have to adjust exactly where you cut between the two simple closed paths) and let the Type flow from one to the other. I am still with 10, so I am unable to describe exactly how to do the latter. Hopefully, someone else will give the instructions.
Someone?

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