Oldham Athletic
Stadium: SportsDirect.com Park
Manager: Steve Robinson
Last season: League One 17th; FA Cup 2nd round; League Cup 1st round; Football League Trophy 1st round
Overview: The start of the new season is still several weeks away, but it’s already looking ominous for the Oldham Athletic faithful.
As things stand (with less than one calendar month until they begin the new league season at Millwall) Steve Robinson takes over following the decision of John Sheridan (himself only appointed in mid-January) to take the job at League Two Notts County, there has been no little player recruitment during the current transfer window and key players are continuing to leave the club, with several following their former manager in opting to ply their trade at a lower level rather than remain at Boundary Park.
Sheridan was the club’s third manager last term and steered the club to safety after arriving with the club deep in the mire in January following poor showings under Darren Kelly and David Dunn. The supporters would certainly take another 17th place finish in the season ahead given the current situation.
Goals were at something of a premium for Oldham last term and only on one occasion did they register more than two goals in any league or cup game. Only relegated Blackpool found the back of the net fewer than the 44 times the Latics could muster in League One and no player managed to score more than six league goals last term.
Pre-season training began with only five contracted players on the books, so there is going to have to be a major recruitment drive over the last few weeks of the off season. With the club having struggled to pay players’ wages at times last season, it does appear that Latics chairman Simon Corney might be looking to cut costs in terms of the timing of managerial and player recruitment. That could be a dangerous game to play.
Transfer window:
In: Billy McKay
Out: Mike Jones (Carlisle United); Joseph Mills (Perth Glory); David Cornell (Northampton Town); Theo Vassell (out of contract); Jack Truelove (out of contract); Jordan Bove (out of contract); Rhys Turner (out of contract); Joel Coleman (Huddersfield Town); Chris Renshaw (Everton); Jonathan Forte (Notts County); Dominic Poleon (AFC Wimbledon); Liam Kelly (Leyton Orient); James Wilson (Sheffield United)
Current best prices:
To win League One: 66/1 (various)
To win promotion: 20/1 (Bet365)
Relegation: 13/8 Skybet