Football Season Review

Oldham are coming from a turbulent season which saw them change three managers and look like strong relegation candidates after the first two, only to enjoy a true renaissance under John Sheridan and end up beating the drop relatively comfortably. They made the controversial decision to appoint Sunderland coach Darren Kelly last summer, but he lasted only seven league games before being fired. The Latics then opted to promote from within and name midfielder David Dunn their player-manager, but his reign turned into a disaster, as they won only two of seventeen league games under him, and he was relieved from his duties two weeks into January, with Oldham sitting inside the relegation zone and having won only three games up to that point. Their decision to appoint Sheridan, however, was a master stroke, as they went on to lose only two of his opening seventeen games in charge, with this run of results being enough for them to secure their survival with two games to spare. Oldham always looked like a side with potential that just needed that extra something to start winning games, and Sheridan has definitely found what was needed to get their players to perform to their full potentials. Such was their renaissance under Sheridan that they had to fend off interest from several clubs for him. Providing that they manage to keep hold of him during the summer, they will certainly enter the upcoming season with a lot of optimism.

Player of the Season: Liam Kelly