LaticMark

Here we go again . . .

Have you voted? At the moment 66% of OWTB members (who expressed a preference) think Micky Mellon should stay as manager.

The article is titled '2024 Retained Player List' and then states: "Following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, Oldham Athletic can confirm the retained player list for the First Team." In previous years the articles were called 'Retained & Released List' and there was a section that was simply titled 'Released'. On the other hand . . .

Last year the headings were simply 'in contract', 'released' and 'returned to parent club'.

In Contract Tom Conlon, Joe Garner, Oliver Hammond, Shaun Hobson, Liam Hogan, Matt Hudson, Mark Kitching, Josh Lundstram, Kofi Moore, Magnus Norman, James Norwood, Joe Nuttall, Charlie Raglan, Alex Reid, Mark Shelton, Nathan Sheron, Will Sutton, Dan Ward, Kurt Willoughby. Out of Contract (June 2024) Llyton Chapman, Frazer Cookson, Benny Couto, Brennan Dickenson, Mike Fondop, Jake Forshaw, Dan Gardner, Devarn Green, Hallam Hope, Oliver Kilner, Dan Langley, Harrison McGahey, Ben Tollitt, Jordan Windass. Returned to Parent Club Andrew Dallas (Barnsley), Sai Sachdev (Sheffield United), Ethan Walker (Blackburn Rovers). https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2024/april/24042024-retained-list/

Feed the peanut??

According to the Daily

That reminded me of when my Dad took me to Maine Road in 1977 to watch us play Northwich Victoria in the 4th Round of the FA Cup. The Vics switched it to Maine Road as we were a big Division 2* club then! (We won 3 - 1). * which is equivalent to the Championship for our younger readers!

At the moment only 36% of OWTB members, who have expressed a preference, think Mellon should be sacked. Have you voted? Sorry to plug my own poll, but as it's a 'poll only' thread it slips down the list quickly!

We also need to get Nuttall off the wage bill as well. He's supposed to be the club's 2nd biggest earner! Dickenson is the highest earner who's out of contract according to Salary Sport. Those 3 would 'save' around £6,700 a week if their figures are anywhere near correct!

As they are both in-contract, would be get (at least half decent) transfer fees?

Last season's (official) Retained and Released list was published on 1st May. Latics had 18 players under contract, 9 players were released, 4 loanees returned to their parent club, and negotiations had started with 4 players. This season we've got 18 first team players under contract, 10 players out of contract, and 3 loanees returning to their parent club. The wage bill might be different, but the numerical situation is not dissimilar. Maybe the club should issue a 'transfer listed payers' list at the same time?

Any more votes?

I've actually forgotten who I voted for in my own poll! However, I'd now offer Fondop a new 1 year deal and offer Green a 1 year - performance based - contract. The rest, thanks but goodbye.

Snap poll, which will close at the end of the month. Now the season is over, should Micky Mellon be sacked?

@oafcmetty I think you should close the poll to avoid ballot rigging!!

You can pick up a bit on the stream

Last season we finished 12th on 61 points, this season we'll finish 9th or 10th on 63 to 66 points! Oh, and Frank has raised almost £377,000 for charity. Erm, that's it.

I couldn't watch tonight as I was too busy watching paint dry and ironing a handkerchief . . . Can anyone summarise the performance and the fans reaction to it?

Ah, a retained and released list for fans as well as players! Dear Season Ticket Holder Oldham Athletic would like to thank you for your 30 years of service to the club. However, when your season ticket expires at the end of May you will be released as a supporter of Oldham Athletic . . .

However, the Premier League has also removed its mid-season break from the calendar!

"FA Cup replays will be scrapped from the first round onwards in the 2024-25 competition." "All rounds of the Emirates FA Cup will also be played on weekends, including the fifth round which has been played in midweek for the past five seasons." "The changes come as part of a new six-year agreement between the Football Association (FA) and the Premier League." https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68844583 Does that mean there was no consultation with the EFL or the National League? So much for a money spinning replay against a big League 1 club in the 1st round!

We got him from the mighty Telford Utd, and he's on around £820 a week according to https://salarysport.com/football/national-league/oldham-athletic/ One of the main problems will be offloading the in-contract, but out of favour, players such as Nuttall, Reid and Ward, if the above wages are anywhere near correct!

A rolls royce of a player!

I was going to wait until the end of the season, but barring a mathematical miracle we know what league we'll be in next season! If you were Micky Mellon, of the players out of contract in the summer, who would you retain and release? I've taken the list from @oafcmetty's Playing Squad - Summer 23 thread. I'm also presuming that the loanees - Dallas, Sachdev, and Walker - will return to their parent clubs.