Unsworth gets the Oldham job

Unsworth: "This is the perfect job for me and I'm hugely excited to be joining the club at this time. I've had opportunities to become a first-team manager at a number of clubs over the past three of four years but they haven't felt quite right."

Not trying to rain on his parade but the idea that joining a virtually bankrupt, struggling, non-league team is "perfect" and was the one he was waiting for when he turned down "a number of other clubs" is hard to believe.

Oldham is my local club, and there a good few Latics fans who I know, so I have a soft spot for them.

They have been in freefall recently, with the common problem of a rapacious owner. That owner has recently been bought out by a businessman, who is well known locally as a thoroughly decent chap, so hopefully it is a fresh re-start for them.

It's a tough gig for Rhino, though. The National League is a bugger to get out of, as many ex-League teams will testify, but he will get support – 6,600 at Boundary Park last Saturday.

Best of luck to him.

He should have done it earlier, but best wishes to him.

Ferguson as his number 2?

Danny he has "our Franny" and Ebbrell as his Nos 2 and 3. But as I said on the other thread, I don't believe him for one second when he says this was the "perfect job" and he'd turned down various others.

Bankrupt, non-league team with a shrinking fan base due to competition, depressed local economy, and rubbish players. I would wager he knocked back teams a few leagues higher when he thought he was on easy street as Bill's "chosen one."

But regardless good luck to him. He will need it. With his physique, he should be able to save Hallam Hope from further attacks by ruffians.

"Sleeping giant" ... it's been asleep for about 125 years alright but "giant"? – not so much.

Seems his relationship with Joe Royle was key to securing the role:

“I'm looking out now and I see the great man's [Joe Royle's] stand over there. One of my best friends, I'm proud to call him a friend, so to follow in his footsteps, to work with his son, who is a great man, it's a very, very special day for me. They are great people and I've known them for a long time.”

Hope he does well but he's taken on a tough gig.

He's laying it on thick, John.

Not to be patronizing to Oldham, but it sounds like he's arrived at the Nou Camp. Needs to keep some hyperbole back in reserve for when he lands the big jobs.

Paul @ 3, Although I was born in Scotland and my father was from Glasgow, well Airdrie, (just outside) my mother was originally from Oldham, and was a Nurse during the War, which is how they came to meet. I had many relations on my mother's side from Oldham, but most have either died off or moved away, maybe they had a premonition that it would never be the same, nowhere is to be honest.

I too often look for their results through habit, more than anything else but don't get too upset if they lose. Our own Joe Royle managed them back in the day. It will be interesting to see what Undies can do ! I believe their new owner is the proverbial haemorrhoid to deal with, (why do I think of Kenwright when haemorrhoid comes up ?) and not easy to get along with. May become a Club to try our youngsters out on loan with, you never know. I wish him all the best in his future.

On a sidenote, John Daley, great to see you put in a very welcome appearance, not the same these days though is it ?

Just hope Undies can ' Oldham ' together. :-)

I wish Unsworth, Ebbrell, and Jeffers the very best. This is a tough gig to crack and I sincerely hope they can raise Oldham from their slumber. But I think it will be a very tough job to fulfill.

Big Joe done it to a fine degree, starting 30-plus years ago, but the game has changed. Everton, have changed too, for the better.

Well done, Frank and his team, for instilling a metal mentality, to this squad. Hard graft, and belief, plus skill, wins more games than a Team loses.

“What's Our Name?”

Kieran @2, can't agree more with your point. It appears that this job offer might be more a "beggars can't choose" type (ironically, that's equally applicable from Rhino's and Oldham's point of view in this case) and Joe Royle must have helped pulling both sides together behind the scene.

It is sad to see where Oldham is at now as a club. League Two is arguably the "easiest" in the Football League to secure survival due to only 2 relegated places. On the flip side, it made National League one of the toughest divisions in the Pyramid to gain promotions from (here's looking at you, Ryan Reynolds & Wrexham).

But with Oldham in such a financial abyss, staying in the National League this season and without getting into worse financial shape ("Making sure everyone's getting paid on time!") would be more than Mission Accomplished for Latics fans.

Paul@3, with the dire local economy, can Oldham still get 6,600 at the gate consistently?

Despite my scepticism, I still wish the very best for Rhino, Franny and Ebbrell.

As I posted on the other thread, Mazel Tov and all the best to our old friend.

I'll say this: Rhino doesn't lack for courage -- he could hardly have taken on a more difficult gig. However, the risk/reward is excellent -- given Oldham's history and tradition and their passionate fan support, he could become an instant legend if he can lift them out of the depths and back into the sunshine. And even if he can't, just doing a credible job would at least give him a managerial resume to build on.

At least things are looking up at Oldham after a long period of nonstop catastrophe. The hated previous owners have been bought out by a local builder, and the club has just succeeded in buying back Boundary Park.

Nice report, Mike, I haven't been keeping up with Oldham's troubles but always had an affinity for the club, I guess because of Royle's connection.

It would not be bad at all to see some of the alumna kick on and do well for other clubs even if their time here was less than appreciated by some.

Agreed, Dale, and Rhino has another alumnus on his roster in the form of Everton Academy graduate, Hallum Hope, who reportedly was one of their best players until he was seriously injured in an assault by a Chesterfield player in the car park after a game two weeks ago.

I've seen no updated reports on his condition since that attack.

Dupont #10, the answer to your question appears to be Yes. With the new ownership, the fans have come flooding back to Boundary Park. They've sold out every home match this season.

Oldham aren't broke anymore, they've negotiated a resolution to the stadium issue that was still owned by the owners before the last ones, a local businessman is in charge, attendances are back on the up and there is a feel good factor around the club again.

It could be the ideal job. I hope he does well

Mike

Is the capacity limited in non league because their stadium holds 13,000 people but the crowds seem to be around half that size?

I notice Carragher's kid is in the team also. I seem to recall rumors that Everton wanted him a few years ago but his Dad was mouthing off that he was too good for Everton. He is still a Wigan player with a solitary appearance to his name but has been on loan at Oldham.

Also the Oldham website is worse than Evertonfc.com as the staff page still lists John Sheridan as the manager. Oldham are a "big" club in there but Notts County must be the "biggest" in terms of history.

Funny to see Southend down there as they were in the 2nd tier for years.

It's surprising to see John Ebrell leave for a club in the National League (Tier five), because I thought he had a decent job at Everton.

Tony

The speed with which Darlington replaced Ebbrell suggests he was perhaps set to lose the higher profile part of the dual role he had taken on since Unsie left? I know Darren said before that the coaches at Finch Farm were paid in Kp Peanuts before or were in the case of Dunc, indentured servants, but I wouldn't imagine it would be more lucrative at Oldham. That said, if he has aspirations to be a number one himself he has fewer people to climb over than as an under 23 coach.

I think it was a case of "out with the old", Tony.

Unsy must seize the potential at a club which is almost rock bottom.

Good on him and great to see him back working
In my opinion he was in too aafe and comfortable position at FF
Without doubt when he was thrown in at the deep end when we had problems he did his absolute best and should be applauded
I wish him well at Oldham and will watch them

Sounds like Unsworth the familiar. Hope is able to deliver beyond the rhetoric.

Paul @3, correct it is a tough league, and Wrexham will flex their Hollywood money these next 2 seasons.

I also don't live too far away and Rochdale will possibly be joining Oldham next season. We all know what happened to Bury.

There can't be much money around for many clubs in the lower leagues since Covid, Joe, and when you look at the conference league nowadays, it's mostly made up of ex-league clubs.

Tranmere came back up into the league at the second time of asking, and I'm sure Luton Town even spent a bit of time out the Football League, not so long ago, but if you don't get out quick, it looks like it gets much harder.

Kieran #15, the new owner just took over and I'm sure that stuff like the website takes time to upgrade.

As for Boundary Park, I'm straining to remember an article I read a couple of years ago but I believe the previous owner closed half the stand because of untended maintenance issues. They've put exactly 6,600 in the park for every game this season.

Yes, it always feels weird to see formerly top professional clubs down there in the weeds. Are you watching the Wrexham series?

Mike

No I haven't seen it. But I remember the days when Wrexham were well above Swansea in the league! Is it on Amazon like the Arsenal one etc?

KK, it's on FX.

If you don't get that, it can be seen on most of the streaming services, including Amazon Prime.