Oldham Athletic have appointed their new head coach, with Laurent Banide given the role on a one-year deal.
The well-travelled Frenchman is perhaps the most Googled name in the north-west this evening after joining the Latics from Umm Salal FC. His previous management roles have include Monaco, as well as a long list of obscure sides completely unrecognisable to the average English supporter.
Al-Kuwait, Al-Dhafra, Al-Nasr, Al-Kharitiyath, Al-Dhafra (again), Al-Wasl, Al-Orobah, Al-Kuwait and finally Umm Salal SC make up his previous experience, with only one of those stints lasting longer than a calendar year.
Oldham fans could be forgiven for wondering exactly what is going on at their club, with Frankie Bunn sacked last season, Paul Scholes walking after a month and Pete Wild, the caretaker for much of the season, also leaving shortly after being given the job full time.
Untrusted chairman Abdallah Lemsagam said of the move; โIโm delighted to welcome Laurent to Oldham Athletic. He brings a lot of experience to this club and Iโm looking forward to working alongside him the 2019/20 campaign.”
โI believe Laurent is a fantastic coach and is the right man to take this club forward going into the new season.โ
There hasn’t been a swell of positive reaction to the news; instead Latics fans fear the worst as their club seemingly lurches from one disaster to another.
So doesnโt start till the players come back as AL is skint. Does that mean he wonโt be picking the players coming in before then??? Disgusting. Club from top to bottom is rotten. #abdallahout
— Adam Keeley (@alfcorazzin) June 11, 2019
He wont get a say in signings or who's playing anyway so he doesnt need to be there until AL & MO's signings tip up. He'll put them through their paces during the week so those clowns can pick who they want on a Saturday! #oafc
— OAFC Memories๐ฆ (@oafcmemories) June 11, 2019
Anyone fancy Barrow away in 14 months
— Woz Ingham (@Wozz77) June 11, 2019
Dear Latics. Thanks for saving me 300 quid. Not renewed and definitely not bothering now.
— Darryl Cornick ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ (@DazOAFC72) June 11, 2019
Had some long stints as manager that chap ๐๐๐๐ never lasted more than 8 months in any of his previous 15 jobs in the last 14 years
— Dominic Kennerley (@dkennerley) June 11, 2019
Heโs looking forward to putting him on strings and moving him around #puppet
— paul armstrong (@a12myp) June 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/Luke_cullxn/status/1138471868997017602
Strange appointment but nothing really surprises me any more. Hope he does well BUT surely heโs not the best man for the job? What does he know about the English Lower Leagues??
— Adam Wilson (@VoiceofOAFC) June 11, 2019
Fold the club,itโs a joke.
— Pete buck (@Petebuck8) June 11, 2019
