Saddleworth Independent Sports Editor Tony Bugby brings us the latest from Oldham Athletic FC.
IT IS no wonder John Sheridan described maintaining Oldham Athletic’s Sky Bet League One status as his biggest challenge in football management.
The enormity was underlined when Sheridan spoke of the need to win nine of their last 20 league games if they are to beat the drop. That would give them 48 points, a total that in some years has not been sufficient to stay up.
Considering Latics recorded only three victories in their first 26 league matches, that demonstrated, it will need a super-human effort for them to escape from the relegation places.
But the figure now stands at eight wins from 19 following the hugely important win at Greenhous Meadow against Shrewsbury Town.
Sheridan, a canny operator having previously managed Latics, Chesterfield, Plymouth and Newport, knows what is required and if anybody can keep the team up, then it is him.
And in new-signing Anthony Gerrard, Sheridan has recruited a player who could well prove a masterstroke and the difference to their fortunes.
Gerrard, the cousin of legend Steven, is no stranger to Latics having had a spell on loan at SportsDirect.com Park.
With Championship experience for Cardiff City, Hull City and Huddersfield, the big surprise was that nobody made a move for the 29-year-old when he became a free agent in the summer.
Indeed, prior to signing for Latics until the end of the season, Gerrard revealed had been playing for free at Shrewsbury Town for the first half of the current campaign to try and prove to clubs he was worthy of a permanent contract, an arrangement that ended in January.
Latics came in with a deal for the remainder of the season and the impact he made on his debut – ironically at Shrewsbury – was noticeable as he is a leader whose organisational skills stood out.
Sheridan has also brought in Burton Albion midfielder Matt Palmer on a youth loan and the 20-year-old has made an impact and extended the loans of Burnley pair Cameron Dummigan and Daniel Lafferty.
It was also revealed Latics lost out on a cash windfall following James Tarkowski’s £3million move from Brentford to Burnley on transfer deadline day. Latics had a sell-on clause but it was cashed in early because of the club’s financial difficulties.
It is thought they received £150,000 when they would otherwise have netted around £500,000.
It will take a miracle