Hardy praise for Latics fan Scholes

LATICS FAN... Lifelong Athletic supporter Paul Scholes (far right) and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (left) take in a game at Boundary Park.

ATHLETIC chief executive Alan Hardy has heaped praise on Paul Scholes, who has retired after 17 trophy-laden years with Manchester United.

And Hardy doesn’t mind admitting he would have loved the 36-year-old — a lifelong fan of the Boundary Park outfit — to play for the club.

“There were rumours for a few years that Scholesy would end his career with a season at Athletic,” said Hardy.

“Everyone was talking about it apart from ourselves, and it never got to the stage where we had a discussion with him.

“But he is a Latics fan and it would have been nice to have him here.

“That said, you have to respect his decision to stay on as a coach at Old Trafford. He has been with the club for 17 years.”

Hardy is a self-confessed fan of Scholes, who has been spotted in the Boundary Park stands on a number of occasions.

And it’s not hard to understand why. The playmaker clocked up 676 appearances for the Red Devils, winning 10 Premier League titles and two European Cup medals, despite missing the 1999 final against Bayern Munich through suspension.

Hardy added: “Paul was one of the best midfield players ever seen. He is a wonderful ambasaddor for the sport and for Oldham.

“He loves Athletic. Someone once asked him who his favourite ever player was and he said ‘Frankie Bunn’.

“I think the person expected someone more famous so Scholesy was asked to name another and he replied ‘Andy Ritchie’.”

Meanwhile, Scholes has backed United to continue their silverware-gathering exploits even though he will no longer be contributing to them.

"I know this team will go on to win many more trophies under his leadership,” he said.

"To have been part of the team that helped the club reach that 19th title is a great privilege."

The news that Scholes had declined Ferguson's plea to sign a one–year extension just placed more emphasis on United's search for summer recruits and Luka Modric must look even more appealing despite Tottenham's desire to keep hold of the Croatian.