Paul Scholes is the new manager of Oldham Athletic.
The news comes after the EFL decided during a meeting last week that Scholes ten per cent stake in National League Salford City was no barrier or conflict of interest to the appointment. The fifth tier club today confirmed that Scholes has resigned as a director ahead of taking the Oldham job, but will remain a shareholder.
Scholes, who took training for the first time on Monday morning, will bring in the former Latics coach Mick Priest as his assistant. His first game in charge will be when Oldham, 15th in the League Two, entertain Yeovil Town on Tuesday evening.
The former England International won sixty-six caps for his country. He spent his entire career at Manchester United, making seven hundred and eighteen appearances for the club, winning eleven Premier League titles, as well as two Champions Leagues, four FA Cups and three League Cups.
Scholes has previously taken various coaching positions at Old Trafford but more recently has been working as a pundit for BT Sport and ITV.
Oldham are Scholes boyhood club, and he has been linked with the position several times in the past, but after receiving assurances from club owner Abdallah Lemsagam that there would be no interference on the playing side, Scholes finally agreed to take the hot seat a month ago subject to EFL clearance. He has signed an eighteen-month contract.
Oldham fans took to Twitter immediately to react to the news of the appointment, with several believing that the forty-four-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best players in the world in his day, could still do a job on the pitch for the Latics. Here is a selection of their responses.
@Stevie_Gray Happy with this appointment?
— Chris Durning (@rtisantraveller) February 11, 2019
I genuinely think he could still do a job in the midfield for us as well ? ❤️
— Stevie Gray (@Stevie_Gray) February 11, 2019
He can also play midfield.
Up front.
Goal.
In fact, in league 2 Scholes on his own and we'd stay up.
— Johnpaul Quinlan (@Gnomosapien) February 11, 2019
Is he going to admit to being an Oldham fan now?!
— Nick (@SeasideCB) February 11, 2019
Greatest moment in the history of Oldham Athletic.
— The Ogdogg (@TheOgdogg) February 11, 2019
Quality, Come on scholsey! Come on Oldham ?❤
— 3:16 (@_2OLEGEND_) February 11, 2019
Breathtakingly Brilliant ?
— MAK (@MAKtGWB1) February 11, 2019
Yeah, but what's he ever won? Eh? Oh…
— Andy Hugs (@10andyhughes) February 11, 2019
Couple of loans from Man Utd in the summer ?
— Rob Morrison (@RobzHere) February 11, 2019
will be interesting if either Oldham or Salford City (assuming they win promotion) need a point next season to either go up or down a division as to what the score will be money on a nil nil draw perhaps?
— Paul Searle (@Psearle12) February 11, 2019
? Watched him produce a masterclass in midfield against us (Leicester) a few years back, unreal player. Try and convince him to include a playing option in his contract.
— Chris Durning (@rtisantraveller) February 11, 2019
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