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Dear Latics supporters, in line with our promise to be transparent with you, we have a few updates about the current situation at the club, as follows:

 

1) The team: The latest transfer window has seen a lot of activity. We concentrated on ensuring the club operates within a sustainable budget and therefore focused on achieving value for money as well as strengthening key areas with proven performers at this level and above. The team is now run on a budget which goes a long way to ensuring our continued future as a club that is run as a sustainable business.

 

We are delighted that again our team contains home-grown academy players, this is something we are keen to progress, and we welcome Paul Murray and Danny Cadamarteri to the academy. We have signed some young players with great potential with longer contracts to enable us to hold on to them when they prove themselves. This is an investment in the future. We have also decided to reduce our reliance on loan players as they aren’t a long-term solution. As can be expected with a brand-new team, we needed some time to gel together, but I am encouraged and assured by recent performances. The Board are fully behind Laurent and we look forward to the rest of the season

 

2) North Stand and other related issues: The issues surrounding the use of the North Stand continues to be negotiated with Brass Bank Limited with a view to an amicable and sustainable resolution. Please don’t believe the various statements on social media surrounding the OEC’s contract offer to the club. The current offer not only significantly weakens the club and its revenue generation potential, but also ignores the major legal issues referred to below. 

 

In November 2016, the club surrendered the North Stand to Brass Bank despite the club having contributed millions of pounds to its construction, partially through significant grants from the Council. Brass Bank then granted a lease of the North Stand to Oldham Event Centre, the entity trying to get us to agree to a deal to use our stand on punitive terms. 

 

We instructed forensic accountants and lawyers to start an investigation into the whole process last month and we are in dialogue with the Council on the matter. The investigation is in progress and it’s not appropriate to reveal its findings on a piecemeal basis. We will tell you about it once it is complete. This investigation will enable the club to assist regulators in finding the answers, as well as ensuring any wrongs done to the club are righted. Please rest assured that the club will not rest until these key issues are resolved properly. In the meantime, the seats in the stand will always be available for spectator use and we are trying to reach an interim solution with the freeholder as regards the boxes and the use of the interior of the North Stand.

 

3) Non-football/backroom office staff: The backroom office staff and administrative transformation is in progress. We have recruited a Director of Finance who has been working hard to ensure we achieve value for money in procurement, as well as establishing proper financial processes and controls within the club.

 

Our new Managing Director has been working to ensure operations are smoother and all members of staff have clear direction and supervision so that we are all working towards the same goals.

 

With better administrative structure, better infrastructure and a better, dedicated team, we are able to achieve more for less. We are looking at further cost reductions over the coming months by reviewing all our key contracts as waste and price-gouging have already been identified in a few areas. The club will not be making any procurement decisions that are not best value for money.

 

4) Financial stability: As you are all aware, clubs below championship level operate within shoe-string budgets. When you add years of financial mismanagement, nepotism in player recruitment and wage structure as well as key decisions stripping the club of all its income generating assets, you have a situation where achieving financial stability is a challenge (to put it mildly). Since the takeover of the club, despite initial hiccups, we have managed to steady the ship. We still have a long way to go, and nasty surprises from the past keep emerging periodically, but the extent and quantity of these are ever decreasing.

 

The reduced revenue from the North Stand, reduced gates are all contributing factors, but we continue to provide financial assistance when it is needed. We must stress that the Club is in its best financial position for a number of years and in light of what has happened to certain nearby clubs, we want to assure fans that we are in no danger of a similar fate.

 

5) Trust Oldham: As we have demonstrated, we have tried to forge a strong and open working relationship with Trust Oldham. We would welcome any positive development in this regard, and we have demonstrated our goodwill in appointing the Trust representative as a Director of the club and divulging commercially and personally sensitive information to him as a gesture of goodwill and transparency. Whilst we are disappointed with their statement on their review of the full accounts including personal bank statements were not given the same prominence as their statements criticising the club, we will continue to try and work positively to improve things.

 

Finally, we would like to thank the fans that have continued to support the team through this challenging period and some disappointing early results. Those fans that have decided to take a stance to oppose every decision made by the club, please reconsider and come back to supporting the club as we continue to improve on and off the field.

 

We all want to communicate with you in a more transparent way and will hold a fans forum to allow you the opportunity to tell us directly what you think in October, but a date is yet to be agreed.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

From the Chairman and Board of the Directors of Oldham Athletic Football Club

 

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As expected, yet again a load of absolute drivel. As mentioned a couple of times already, the fact he’s criticising previous transfer regimes is incredible. 

 

All he’s done in that statement is blame Corney (as usual), blame the FLG, blame The Trust and finally blame the fans.

 

GET FUCKED YOU CANCEROUS TWAT AND GET OUT OF MY CLUB!

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😮

1 hour ago, kowenicki said:

Dear Latics supporters, in line with our promise to be transparent with you, we have a few updates about the current situation at the club, as follows:

 

1) The team: The latest transfer window has seen a lot of activity. We concentrated on ensuring the club operates within a sustainable budget and therefore focused on achieving value for money as well as strengthening key areas with proven performers at this level and above.
🤣 A couple of players, mainly dross.
The team is now run on a budget which goes a long way to ensuring our continued future as a club that is run as a sustainable business.

 

We are delighted that again our team contains home-grown academy players,
:petesake:
3 at a push, 2 with appearances. Hamer & Stott. Swaby-NEaving is stretching it.

Youth Team seems to contain a normal number.


this is something we are keen to progress, and we welcome Paul Murray and Danny Cadamarteri to the academy. We have signed some young players with great potential with longer contracts to enable us to hold on to them when they prove themselves. This is an investment in the future. We have also decided to reduce our reliance on loan players as they aren’t a long-term solution. As can be expected with a brand-new team, we needed some time to gel together, but I am encouraged and assured by recent performances.
🤣 Two halves don't make a promotion push.

 

The Board are fully behind Laurent and we look forward to the rest of the season

 

2) North Stand and other related issues: The issues surrounding the use of the North Stand continues to be negotiated with Brass Bank Limited with a view to an amicable and sustainable resolution.
😮 Really!


Please don’t believe the various statements on social media surrounding the OEC’s contract offer to the club. The current offer not only significantly weakens the club and its revenue generation potential, but also ignores the major legal issues referred to below. 
🙄 Not credible.

 

In November 2016, the club surrendered the North Stand to Brass Bank despite the club having contributed millions of pounds to its construction, partially through significant grants from the Council.
:petesake:

The grants are clearly propped up by OACT, who continue to do great work.

It's a matter of record this was partially in lieu of compensation for the Failsworth debacle.
No doubt the lawyers will find wriggle room, but at what cost.


Brass Bank then granted a lease of the North Stand to Oldham Event Centre, the entity trying to get us to agree to a deal to use our stand on punitive terms. 

 

We instructed forensic accountants and lawyers to start an investigation into the whole process last month and we are in dialogue with the Council on the matter. The investigation is in progress and it’s not appropriate to reveal its findings on a piecemeal basis. We will tell you about it once it is complete. This investigation will enable the club to assist regulators in finding the answers, as well as ensuring any wrongs done to the club are righted. Please rest assured that the club will not rest until these key issues are resolved properly.

🤨 Straws. Clutched.

In the meantime, the seats in the stand will always be available for spectator use and we are trying to reach an interim solution with the freeholder as regards the boxes and the use of the interior of the North Stand.

 

3) Non-football/backroom office staff: The backroom office staff and administrative transformation is in progress. We have recruited a Director of Finance
💰 🤑 At what cost? Excessive for size of operation. what's the MD doing?

who has been working hard to ensure we achieve value for money in procurement, as well as establishing proper financial processes and controls within the club.

 

Our new Managing Director has been working to ensure operations are smoother and all members of staff have clear direction and supervision so that we are all working towards the same goals.

:deal: Waffle, no detail.

 

With better administrative structure, better infrastructure and a better, dedicated team, we are able to achieve more for less. We are looking at further cost reductions over the coming months by reviewing all our key contracts as waste and price-gouging have already been identified in a few areas. The club will not be making any procurement decisions that are not best value for money.

 :sleeping:Yada yada yada. Total saving sill be interesting, perhaps we could ahve some detailed accounts?

 

4) Financial stability: As you are all aware, clubs below championship level operate within shoe-string budgets. When you add years of financial mismanagement,
nepotism in player recruitment and wage structure
 🤣 🤣🤣 Nuff said, incredulous.

as well as key decisions stripping the club of all its income generating assets, you have a situation where achieving financial stability is a challenge (to put it mildly). Since the takeover of the club, despite initial hiccups, we have managed to steady the ship. We still have a long way to go, and nasty surprises from the past keep emerging periodically,
 :petesake:2 years since he spent 6 months at the club every day. What are these surpises? You have to pay pensions?


but the extent and quantity of these are ever decreasing.

 

The reduced revenue from the North Stand,
  :deal:Which the FLG offered to increase
reduced gates
 😮 Look in the mirror for the sreasons for a 30% reduction
are all contributing factors, but we continue to provide financial assistance when it is needed. We must stress that the Club is in its best financial position for a number of years and in light of what has happened to certain nearby clubs, we want to assure fans that we are in no danger of a similar fate.

 :deal: We want proof, your word is simply not good enough

5) Trust Oldham: As we have demonstrated, we have tried to forge a strong and open working relationship with Trust Oldham. We would welcome any positive development in this regard, and we have demonstrated our goodwill in appointing the Trust representative as a Director of the club and divulging commercially and personally sensitive information to him as a gesture of goodwill and transparency. Whilst we are disappointed with their statement on their review of the full accounts including personal bank statements were not given the same prominence as their statements criticising the club, we will continue to try and work positively to improve things.

 😕 The Trust. What can you say. I want to be positive, but the lack of transparency and details is as bad as the owners currently. We need some positiv enews in that regard.

 

Finally, we would like to thank the fans that have continued to support the team through this challenging period and some disappointing early results. Those fans that have decided to take a stance to oppose every decision made by the club, please reconsider and come back to supporting the club as we continue to improve on and off the field.

 :mmm:Actions not words.

 

We all want to communicate with you in a more transparent way and will hold a fans forum to allow you the opportunity to tell us directly what you think in October, but a date is yet to be agreed.

 :petesake:You need to , but this is not the answer. Is this the same idealistic aim as the Chapel Road development... Just words.. The format of any Forum will be crucial.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

From the Chairman and Board of the Directors of Oldham Athletic Football Club

 

Not much to be positive about IMHO.

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This latest pile of shite has blown the top off the contempt barometer to record breaking patronising levels.

 

I had to check the date as I thought I’d traveled in time and it was written by our future owners commenting on the previous Lemsagam tenure.  Criticism of inheriting nepotistic player recruitment?  This whole club and activity under his tenure stinks of nepotism.

 

The appointment of the DofF and forensic accountants smacks of desperation to unearth something, anything to detract attention from this fuckwit onto someone else.  

 

He could easily conclude this matter by releasing an unedited & detailed financial history starting with the club purchase, debts inherited & settled, P&L and full audit of all player transfers.  Give it to Kieran Maguire on Twitter who specialises on football club account for an impartial view....oh, and sign a decent fucking striker, creative midfielder & centre half!

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They really need to employ a proper communications expert as they are so poor and come across very defensive and negative in every communication. This just gets on people’s nerves and elicits an equally negative response form us all with disbelief and distrust.

 

Actions speak louder than words, the lack of constant engagement with fans leaves a void which will get filled with truths, part truths and speculation. I have no problem that we live within our means but the recruitment has no clear strategy, the constant vanishing of players and staff with a complete lack of transparency is much more indicative of the regime in charge than a statement saying this is “transparency” we have promised.

 

The reason crowds have fallen is due to the lack of openness and transparency in trying to engage “the fan” in the grand masterplan.

i dearly wish We turns things around and unearth some gems in the scattergun recruitment policy, but be honest about things, they got lucky a player like Wheater was available due to Bolton being in dire straits it was not part of a well thought out recruitment policy.

 

The regime is alienating its customers and it is on a downward spiral of reduced income, so lesser players (quality and quantity) and so more disillusioned fans etc etc.

 

Forget a FD and his scythe of cost reduction, invest in a proper communications team and engage your paying customers in the right manner as the current regime are so out of their depth - maybe they need to go and learn a few things from the likes of Burton or Brentford

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Its pathetic isn't it and yet their will be will be people who actually believe this utter dross. I can see the majority of us aren't buying this and thats good. But you can bet the muppets on the facebook groups will believe this garbage

 

Abdullah really is lower than a snakes scrotum.

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Latics facebook really is a scary place. Full of halfwits lapping it up as a good, honest piece of communication. Shows what we’re up against in terms of uniting a fragmented fan base when half seemingly don’t have the capacity to see the complete horse shit that’s staring them in the face.

 

Bazza is surely pissing his pants with that nepotism line.

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44 minutes ago, Ricardo said:

The reason crowds have fallen is due to the lack of openness and transparency in trying to engage “the fan” in the grand masterplan.

 

 

Agree that communication and openness is crucial but falling crowds is nothing to do with events off the field but what’s happening on the field.

 

Those season under Dowie and Shez put bums on seats because we was playing attractive football and scoring goals.  Even under Johnson and recently under Wellens.  Bringing in players like Byrne, Baxter, Kilkenny, Murray, Wellens himself and even Shez on one leg excites fans.  Upfront it’s players like Doyle, Kuqi, Surridge and recently Lang who you knew had a goal in them.

 

This season there’s nobody.  Wheater yes but it’s in the middle or up front that spikes interest, fires excitement and gets the punter in.  One player remotely close is Nepo and he’s being shown the door.  Desire I’d love to succeed but whilst Nepo is out, Nepotism is in with that fat donkey Vera.

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17 minutes ago, Midsblue said:

 

Agree that communication and openness is crucial but falling crowds is nothing to do with events off the field but what’s happening on the field.

 

Those season under Dowie and Shez put bums on seats because we was playing attractive football and scoring goals.  Even under Johnson and recently under Wellens.  Bringing in players like Byrne, Baxter, Kilkenny, Murray, Wellens himself and even Shez on one leg excites fans.  Upfront it’s players like Doyle, Kuqi, Surridge and recently Lang who you knew had a goal in them.

 

This season there’s nobody.  Wheater yes but it’s in the middle or up front that spikes interest, fires excitement and gets the punter in.  One player remotely close is Nepo and he’s being shown the door.  Desire I’d love to succeed but whilst Nepo is out, Nepotism is in with that fat donkey Vera.

 

I agree

 

The Communication aspect is important but its a smaller issue compared to the bigger issues at the club. The state of current team and the signing of dozens of dross footballers has to be the biggest concern here.

 

Looking at the overall reaction though across the various social media platforms this statement appears to have backfired. The majority of us can see through the lies and the bullshit that this clown, his brother and his creepy little henchman Barry Owen have just fed us.

 

 

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40 minutes ago, south east latic said:

Latics facebook really is a scary place. Full of halfwits lapping it up as a good, honest piece of communication. Shows what we’re up against in terms of uniting a fragmented fan base when half seemingly don’t have the capacity to see the complete horse shit that’s staring them in the face.

 

Bazza is surely pissing his pants with that nepotism line.

 

I’d say the majority are somewhere in the middle, including myself

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