LAST UPDATE | 11 Feb 2019
PAUL SCHOLES HAS been confirmed as the new manager of League Two outfit Oldham Athletic, the club has confirmed.
The Manchester United legend takes over at Boundary Park on a one-and-a-half-year deal, and will bring in Oldham’s former head youth coach Mick Priest as his assistant.
Best of luck to Scholesy in his new role as first-team manager of @OfficialOAFC! 👍 pic.twitter.com/oVH2q66Bur
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 11, 2019
“Paul has won everything there is to win in football,” said Latics owner Abdallah Lemsagam.
“He is a man who will bring a lot of footballing knowledge and his hunger to succeed in management will be there for everyone to see.
“It’s no secret how much he has wanted this job in the past and how much he loves this club, so I’m very happy to bring him into our family at Oldham Athletic.
“Paul will have my backing 100% and hopefully we can work together to bring success back to this club.”
Though a United fan himself growing up, Scholes has previously spoken of his affinity towards Oldham; in childhood, he used to go watch them with his father, Stewart, a lifelong Latics supporter.
The 44-year-old spoke to the media in his new role for the first time this afternoon, and Scholes said he will tap into the relationships he established in a glittering playing career to help boost their fortunes.
United youngster Zak Dearnley is already on loan at the Latics and that could be a sign of things to come.
“That’s what I’ll be trying to do,” said former England international Scholes when asked if he will be digging into his contacts book.
“Obviously Zak’s come in, he scored his first goal on Saturday and he made a big difference in the game. I was really pleased with him.
“You need to have contacts when you’re down at this level. You need to have contacts all over the place.
“I’ve got a few people who I can get in touch with at various different clubs, not just Manchester United.
“Obviously I’m very close with Nicky [Butt], I’m close to the people at Man United, and if they can help me in some way I’m sure they will.”
Scholes is the latest in a long line of ex-United stars to try their hand at management and he revealed that the likes of Wales boss Ryan Giggs, along with the Neville brothers Gary and Phil, had offered words of encouragement.
“They wished me good luck, they just want me to do well,” he said.
“As in the jobs they’re doing – Phil with the England ladies team, Ryan with the national team, and Gary when he went to Valencia – we all want each other to do well.
“I’m sure – well, I hope! – they want me to do well here as well.”
Scholes also confirmed to Sky Sports that he will make use of his relationship with “the best manager the world has ever seen”, Alex Ferguson, as he embarks on his own managerial career.
"It is great to have the best manager the world has ever seen on the end of the phone"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 11, 2019
New Oldham manager Paul Scholes will be utilising his vastly experienced connections.
The 44-year-old’s first match in charge will come on Tuesday evening, as his Oldham side host Yeovil Town in League Two.
Oldham are currently 14th in English football’s third tier, but they will be targeting a strong end to the 2018-19 campaign ahead of a possible promotion bid next season.
- With additional reporting from Omni
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