Football Season Guide

Oldham Athletic

In


Ian Lawlor (Goalkeeper, Doncaster Rovers, Season-long loan), Carl Piergianni (Defender, Salford City), Cameron Borthwick-Jackson (Defender, Manchester United), Jordan Barnett (Defender, Barnsley), Kyle Jameson (Defender, AFC Fylde), Sido Jombati (Defender, Wycombe Wanderers), Ben Garrity (Midfielder, Blackpool, Season-long loan), Bobby Grant (Midfielder, Wrexham, Season-long loan), Callum Whelan (Midfielder, Watford), Conor McAleny (Midfielder, Fleetwood Town), Davis Keillor-Dunn (Midfielder, Wrexham)

Out


Ellis Allen (Goalkeeper, APEA Akrotiri), Alex Iacovitti (Defender, Ross County), Carl Piergianni (Defender, Salford City, Loan ended), Jamie Stott (Defender, released), Javid Swaby-Neavin (Defender, released), Sonhy Sefil (Defender, released), Zak Mills (Defender, Port Vale), Chris McCann (Midfielder, released), Christian N’Guessan (Midfielder, Burnley, Loan ended), Christopher Missilou (Midfielder, Northampton Town), Filipe Morais (Midfielder, Crawley Town, Loan ended), Gevaro Nepomuceno (Midfielder, released), Jonny Smith (Midfielder, Bristol City, Loan ended), Mohamad Sylla (Midfielder, released), Desire Segbe Azankpo (Attacker, released), Emmanuel Dieseruvwe (Attacker, Salford City, Loan ended), Kielen Adams (Attacker, Clitheroe), Marvin Kokos (Attacker, released), Scott Wilson (Attacker, released), Zak Emmerson (Attacker, Brighton & Hove Albion)

Abdallah Lemsagam’s shadow looms large over Boundary Park as his chaotic ownership continues to lurch from controversy to crisis. Consistency and stability have been alien concepts, with the premature end to last season due to the Covid-19 pandemic barely registering on the scale. Laurent Banide lasted barely a month into the campaign before being sacked and was replaced by Dino Maamria. Their league position seems almost irrelevant with everything else going on. The Latics somehow pulled off a coup in the signing of striker Danny Rowe from AFC Fylde and, despite a disappointing set of results, things seemed to be heading in the right direction before Maamria was sacked in July. He was immediately replaced by Harry Kewell, who is clearly desperate to get back into the management. Less than a month into the job he faces a threat of transfer embargo with Lemsagam in a wage dispute with seven players over Covid-19 pandemic. Allegations of the owner’s interference in team selections continue with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Carl Piergianni’s loan moves being made permanent. Goalkeeper Ian Lawlor, defender Sido Jombati and midfielders Bobby Grant and Conor McAleny have plenty of league experience but it will be off-the-pitch matters that define the Latics season.

Target


Survival. Kewell has plenty to prove following his nightmare spell at Notts County and, with a nightmare owner, the Latics will be fighting to stay in the Football League.