Sports Editor Tony Bugby brings us the latest from Oldham Athletic
OLDHAM ATHLETIC are reportedly continuing to interview candidates for the managerial vacancy at SportsDirect.com Park.
There is an ongoing drip, drip of information which leaks out about who has been seen or which would-be manager can be spotted watching in the stands.
I want to use this month’s column to say why I believe caretaker manager Dean Holden ought to be given the job.
Fair play to Holden, who has been placed in charge until the end of the season, for ensuring Latics remain in Sky Bet League One for a 19th successive season.
It was certainly a baptism of fire for Holden who was placed in temporary charge when Lee Johnson vacated his post to join League One rivals Barnsley in late February.
The team was on the slide and also suffering from a crippling injury list which, at one stage, saw nine players on the sidelines.
Holden has handled a difficult situation with the maturity of a seasoned manager and, including Good Friday’s draw against runaway leaders Bristol City, had taken 10 points from nine games – three wins, one draw and five defeats.
It may only be a modest record at first glance but, given the circumstances since he took charge, it is a decent return. And those 10 points have ensured Latics won’t get sucked into another relegation dogfight which had become an annual event.
Holden has also showed a good working knowledge of the loan market to bring in Anthony Gerrard, Mat Sadler and the unknown Luke Woodland while also not being afraid to throw in kids like goalkeeper Joel Coleman who has been a revelation.
Trainee Devante Jacobs has also made his League debut while Jordan Bove, Jack Truelove, Jack Tuohy and Paul Tyson have been on the bench.
And the players I have spoken to, all speak highly of their new ‘gaffer’ and I think he would be a popular appointment.
It would also help achieve continuity as Holden was a member of Johnson’s backroom staff so it would not be a case of a new broom wanting to sweep clean.
Holden has also been on the coaching staff at Walsall whose manager Dean Smith is one of the best at this level so knows how to operate at this level and what is entailed working on a shoestring budget.
Latics have the nucleus of a decent squad which, with a couple of good additions, should be challenging for a play-off place in 2015/16.
Let’s just hope they can hold on to their better players unlike last summer, when key men like Korey Smith, James Wesolowski and Jonson Clarke-Harris all left, and they can build on the solid foundations laid by Johnson.
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