FanZone correspondent Paul Prendergast has begun wondering who is controlling the Latics' destiny...
Latics' fortunes hard to digest after season of unrest
Drama has followed Oldham around like a bad smell in recent years, which is why
FanZone correspondent Paul Prendergast has begun wondering who is controlling The Latics' destiny...
You might be forgiven for thinking that Season 2008/09 at Boundary Park was written by the script writers of Sky One's Dream Team.
As the club bounced in and out of the news all season, culminating in the well-publicised 'incidents' at a club night out at a local dog-track, John Sheridan ended up sacked and Joe Royle returned to the club where he is rightfully regarded a living legend.
As a new season dawns it is all change at the club with Dave Penney installed as the club's 10th manager in just under 15 years, however this time there is a tangible difference - firstly, Penney has installed his own backroom team, and he has also released many of the players that in the latter part of the season were not up to the job.
Vibrant
His signings are young, vibrant players such as Rob Purdie, Dean Brill and the exciting Dean Furman, who are all looking to prove themselves at a better level or make a fresh start after moves that did not work out or a lack of first-team opportunities in the case of Pawel Abbott and Keigan Parker. Latics fans will be hoping those latter two names can fill the void left by last season's 18-goal leading scorer Lee Hughes.
The squad does have a young look about it, but also a sharpness and fitness that were not there under the previous regime. The average age has fallen markedly but experience has been maintained when you consider that the majority of Penney's signings have played well over 200 league games each.
So whilst it may seem we have moved markedly away from last season's squad that included the experience of Hughes, Liddell, Crossley and Maher, the apparent drop in age is more than accounted for in numbers of games played.
One familiar face did return to Boundary Park over the summer and that was captain Sean Gregan who had been originally released before winning a reprieve through his improved fitness and professional attitude.
Starlets
The manager has also attempted to look to the future by re-instating the club's reserve team and signing three young starlets that he hopes will make an impression at Boundary Park.
Rene Steer, a wing-back who signed from Arsenal, Philip Ojapah a utility player who arrived from non-league AFC Liverpool and another versatile youngster, Michael McKerr, signed from Birmingham City. The manager believes as much as the fans that youngsters are the club's future, especially those that may have a re-saleable value.
I expect this season to be one of transition for Oldham Athletic, I do not believe we will struggle but realistically I think there are better-equipped teams to launch an assault on the League One promotion places.
Having said that we will be an unknown quantity and if we can get off to a good start we may just nick a top 10 finish.
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