Kelly committed to the Latics cause
Reporter: Simon Smedley
Date published: 19 May 2015
New manager Darren Kelly: commitment got him the gig.
CLUB director Anthony Gee has hinted that assurances of a strong commitment to the Athletic cause helped Darren Kelly net the Oldham manager’s job.
Gee has been asked whether, if he were to prove as successful as all the fans hope, Kelly would be allowed to leave in similar circumstances to those that saw Lee Johnson move from Athletic to rivals Barnsley earlier this year.
“If Darren’s good, we’ll do everything in our power to keep him,” said Gee.
It’s far too soon to judge the success of Kelly, but Gee, who also gave a possible insight into why more higher-profile names were overlooked, said: “With the way football is, even a top Premier League club can’t hold on to its superstars. We will do everything we can to tie Darren down to a long-term contract, but we also have to be realistic. We can’t handcuff him..
“We didn’t want, and Oldham don’t necessarily need, a tried and tested manager who’s out of work and looking to get back in the game, using our club as maybe a six to 10 game stepping stone. We’re going to get a level of commitment from Darren we wouldn’t get from that type of manager.
twitter: @Smedders1966
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Milan Bar in Lees and The Bank at Delph close doors with immediate effect
- 2Latics announce retained list
- 3Attack on shop worker filmed and posted on Snapchat results in jail sentence for Oldham man
- 4Suspect arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after firearms discharge in Glodwick
- 5Police searching for John's next of kin