Athletic line-up Holden for coach role

Dean Holden: coming back to Oldham?

DEAN Holden has emerged as a strong contender to take on the role of first-team coach at Athletic, the Chronicle understands.

Manager Lee Johnson is believed to be keen to bring the 35-year-old former colleague at Chesterfield, back to Oldham to replace Paul Murray, who left two weeks ago to become Hartlepool’s manager.

Salford-based Holden is currently with Walsall as a player-coach. The experienced defender has made five appearances so far in 2014-15 after a season out due to injury. His contract runs out at the end of the current season.

The former Bolton, Peterborough and Shrewsbury man would fit the bill perfectly for Athletic, as an aspiring young coach with a UEFA ‘A’ qualification, who is working for his pro license. The player would probably suffer a substantial drop in salary if he came back to Latics.

Athletic is also hoping to bring in a new football operations manager to replace Lee Dykes, who joined Carlisle last month. The job involves analysis of the opposition; the club is said to have received several high-quality applications.

Johnson hinted last week that he may choose a southern-based appointment to widen the club’s scouting net.

:: Lee Johnson has been shortlisted as league manager of the month award for the second month running.

He faces stiff competition from Preston boss Simon Grayson — who won every match in October — Crewe’s Steve Davis and Shaun Derry of Notts County.

Athletic striker Jonathan Forte is in the player of the month shortlist.