Sports Editor Tony Bugby brings us the latest from Oldham Athletic
APPARENTLY THERE are 70 serious applicants for the managerial vacancy at Oldham Athletic, but who is going to get the job?
It is a dilemma for chairman/owner Simon Corney and the board of directors because the choice to succeed Lee Johnson could be critical to the future of the cash-strapped club.
A number of names have emerged as contenders, the bookmakers’ favourite Iain Dowie on a return for a second stint as manager while former player Shefki Kuqi who has been recommended by England manager Roy Hodgson and former Chelsea, Barcelona, AC Milan and Holland defender Winston Bogarde also wants the job.
Manchester United legend and Saddleworth-based Paul Scholes has spoken to Latics, but has ruled himself out of contention.
Scholes watched the team win last Tuesday at Port Vale but afterwards declared that one day he wants to manage the club, but this is not the right time.
No doubt Scholes has considered the financial constraints as a factor because he would be expected to challenge for promotion while working on a proverbial shoestring. And I am sure he has weighed that up against his lucrative contract as a television pundit and other media work which he would in all probability have to give up.
I have even given by two penneth by emailing Mr Corney after somebody highly respected in football recommended Craig Hignett as a contender as he is young and enthusiastic and has experience as No 2 at Middlesbrough under Aitor Karanka.
There has been no reply from Mr Corney so I cannot tell you if the former Crewe, Middlesbrough, Barnsley and Blackburn player is in the frame at SportsDirect.com Park.
I was sad to see Johnson leave and, having worked with him on a day-to-day basis in my time at Latics, I believe he has all the qualities to become a top manager.
Latics were one of the favourites to be relegated this season, but Johnson mounted a promotion challenge, a terrific achievement with a team of essentially free transfer players which he moulded into a successful side.
I think it is a sad indictment of the lack of ambition at Latics that Johnson should leave for a club in the same division – indeed they were below them in the table when he left.
The word is that Barnsley’s playing budget is three times larger than Latics which, if that is true, gives him far more scope to guide them back into the Championship.
Latics look to have blown their hopes of a play-off place following last Saturday’s defeat at bottom-placed Yeovil which was their fourth loss in five games.
Incredibly, they have failed to register one win against a bottom-four team this season which is remarkable bearing in mind some of their fabulous displays against the top teams.
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