Big Joe makes Latics return

EXCITED . . . Joe says the club has always had a big place in his heart

LATICS legend Joe Royle returned to his spiritual home today following an extraordinary weekend of events at Boundary Park.

The popular 59-year-old, who managed Athletic during the late 1980s and early ’90s — the most successful period in the club’s history — has agreed to take over for the final nine league games of the season following yesterday’s sacking of John Sheridan.

Royle said: “I am excited by the prospect of managing Latics again. I have tried for one or two jobs but didn’t even receive a reply.

“It seems people have forgotten me so it was nice to be remembered by Oldham who still have a big place in my heart. When I met managing director Simon Corney and chief executive Alan Hardy, we spoke for about three minutes about money and three hours about football.”

Saturday’s 6-2 defeat at Milton Keynes Dons saw Athletic slip to eighth place after a run of only two wins in 10 league games.

It was the manner of recent defeats which worried the directors. They decided something had to be done after Saturday’s hefty loss.

Sheridan was summoned to Boundary Park yesterday lunchtime for a meeting with Corney after which a brief statement was issued indicating that the club had parted company with Sheridan after almost three years in charge.

Royle’s appointment will give the club — and the borough — a massive lift as Latics bid to arrest the slide and reclaim a place in League One’s top six.

l Athletic won’t be rushing into appointing a long-term successor to Sheridan. That decision won’t be taken until the summer.