Scholes: Latics the right place... but this the wrong time

Date published: 06 March 2015


PAUL Scholes has said he will one day manager Athletic — but has passed on the chance to take on the job this time.

The 40 year old admitted he was tempted by the offer from the club he describes as “very close to my heart”.

Though the Manchester United legend sees himself entering coaching one day, family and television responsibilities mean he couldn’t commit to a demanding management role now.

“It was an offer that really tempted me,” wrote Scholes in the Independent. “Even as I watched Athletic in the Port Vale game on Tuesday, having made my decision not to take the job, there was part of me that wished I was in the dug-out.

“I will be a manager one day. I have come to see that over the last eight months. And one day I believe I will manage Oldham. They are a really good family club who mean a great deal to a lot of people — myself included. I just didn’t feel this was the right time.

“When I go into management, I want to do so with 100 per cent commitment. At the moment I have a lot of responsibilities I cannot simply drop immediately. Managing a club like Oldham has to be an all-absorbing, seven days a week commitment. That is how Lee Johnson made such a success of it. One day I will be ready to do that. This was the right job, just at the wrong time.”

Tony Carss is the latest name to be linked with the vacant manager’s role at Athletic. A popular player during his time with Athletic, the 38-year-old lives in the town and is currently working as a youth coach at Huddersfield Town.