Chris O’Grady has left Oldham Athletic to sign a deal until the end of the season with League One Bolton Wanderers.
The thirty-three-year-old striker is somewhat of a journeyman in the EFL, having represented Rotherham, Rochdale, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Brighton & Hove Albion amongst others during a sixteen-year career.
O’Grady will once again team up with Trotters manager Keith Hill, and it was under Hill at Rochdale that the forward enjoyed perhaps the most prolific spell of his career, scoring thirty-four goals in ninety-eight appearances between 2009 and 2011.
The much-travelled forward scored six times in twenty-three league outings for the Latics in his second spell at Boundary Park, but he’s been out of favour with new boss Laurent Banide at the start of the new campaign.
Judging by the reaction to the departure, O’Grady divided opinion on the Boundary Park terraces. The forward was often a target for the boo-boys at Oldham, and this is borne out by some of the reaction from supporters who obviously didn’t rate him. However, others felt the treatment he got at Oldham was unfair and that he was a better player than many players still at the club.
Here is a selection of responses to the departure on Twitter.
Did you not watch any games last season? He was useless. Spent all the time on the wing and completely out of position. Only time he moved was when he got that hattrick and even then he was a shambles. Only actually moved when he got the goals. Was useless before. Useless now
— Jonny Ramsden (@Jonny_Ramsden) September 2, 2019
Better than what people gave him credit for and certainly better than Vera hands down, good luck Chris, sorry for the way you have been treated
— Chris Stott (@ChrisJStott19) September 2, 2019
Good luck Chris. I won’t lie, I thought you were shocking, but not as shocking as the way you’ve been treated. Hope it works out for you at Bolton.
— Ste (@Hurrikeen) September 2, 2019
The treatment this guy got was shocking
— George Tudor (@_georgetudor_) September 2, 2019
Good luck COG. Nicest man in football and treated terribly by Oldham!
— Tommy Bostock (@Tommy_Bostock) September 2, 2019
He’ll have nightmares about #oafc when he retires.
As a club and fan base we’ve treated him terribly – TWICE!
Good luck COG; a few us saw what you gave us and appreciated it.
— Jordan (@Jordanator83) September 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/mills_thesir/status/1168573685378297857?s=20
Good luck Chris, and thank you for your always hard work.
— mungo jerry (@mungo52) September 2, 2019
Good luck COG, glad you have got away from the circus.
— John T (@NorthStandBaldy) September 2, 2019
Chris O Grady well done you was not treated right by oldham athletic and wish you all the best you will score goals at Bolton and rub it in the oldham athletic managers face