Dick_Valentine

I wish my team got knocked out of the European cup tonight. Worry about what's going on at our own club rather than what's happening elsewhere is my suggestion.

My first season ticket since 1995/6 and so far I've only been to 4 matches, I can't even give it away now when I can't go. Can't see me renewing next time. If I pay for champagne and get a :censored:e bottle of cava then I'd be pissed off and would demand a refund, unfortunately I can't do that with my ST but will I buy again? What's the point?

I travel all over the country with my job and I've always been proud to say I'm an Oldham Athletic supporter, not anymore. I was in Burslem today and the guy I see regular there is a Vale fan and even he has started to take the piss. What a :censored:ing shambles!

Boxing Day has always been a contentious issue with me and our lass. She says it's a family day, I say it's a football day. I've not put up any resistance this year...

I have exactly the same problem in my house. As soon as I saw the fixtures I managed to talk Doris round and I got a pass, but now I can't get anyone to go. Thanks Latics for :censored:ing up my Boxing Day piss up!

Local lad, any affinity to the club?

 

KC

If we take 600 there on Boxing Day with our form the way it is it'll be a good effort. I've had a pass from the missus for weeks to attend this and get pissed up, but I can't persuade anyone to go. Looks like it's turkey curry at home then for me, probably as well after the shambles at Crewe.

1 vote for Brown?

About £1m for each fan that will contribute.

Damn! I'm out then

In the meantime, who's up for a trip to New York to burn an effigy outside the offices of the current owner?

2 grand each then, I'm in.

I have always prided myself on my support for MY home town, team and club. When I first started following Oldham Athletic I could have easily chosen Liverpool or Everton the two top teams of the time. Or perhaps gone following United or City, both were in the doldrums but both were relatively cheap and all my mates followed one or the other. But, No. I chose my dads team Oldham Athletic. The team I fell in love with prided themselves on being a family club with a loyal fanbase that had been brought up on attacking football. Theyd been struggling in the second tier for 12 years but had always tried to play the right way and the number one aim was to entertain. Football like it or not is an entertainment business and the number one aim is goals. I was lucky I began supporting the team in 1986 and for the next eight years or so it was thrills and spills all the way, there were a couple of poor periods in late 1987 and late 1988 but overall the team won the majority of its home games, ok we were crap away but week after week you were guaranteed goals at Boundary Park. Another thing, the directors were local men, the players were contracted to the club and we had stability with a management team that wanted to win football matches played the right way. The ground was a dump, we didnt care it was ours and we were all in it together from the chairman to the tea lady.

 

Fast forward to the summer of 2003, my darkest days as a Latics fan but also some of the best. I was proud to be a Latics fan seeing how we rallied round and pulled together to try and save our club, the togetherness I felt in that 2003/04 season is something that will live with me forever. We knew the good times were well and truly behind us and the club was fighting for its very existence. Luckily three New York Businessmen rode in and saved the club from oblivion. They had great ideas to move the club forward, yet were halted and then delayed by a council lacking vision.

 

Still we began to move forward on the pitch and between 2005-09 we saw FOUR consecutive top ten finishes which saw the club in a good place and consistently in the right half of the league. However, eventually those frustrations off the field resulted in the Chairman walking away and around the same time saw John Sheridan sacked. Ever since our fortunes on the field have nosedived, the fanbase has become demoralised and half of those fans that worked so hard to keep the club afloat in 2003, the same fans that were simply happy to have a club have walked away. Washing their hands of a club that is only heading one way.

 

It wont happen They say, well ask Grimsby Town, Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County, Lincoln City, Wrexham etc. all similar sized clubs to us these days. Well it happened to them!

 

With each cock up we inch closer to oblivion.

 

2015 has been a nightmare for Oldham Athletic

 

Ched Evans Saga. Were these the actions of a family club, one I and my kids proudly support?

 

Lee Johnson to Barnsley. He was under contract, he stays until the end of the season. THE CLUB COMES FIRST.

 

Dean Holden being placed in charge. Just what was the plan here? IT smacked of little Oldham giving up and part of the reason we have only 3 wins in 28 league games. An unforgivable lack of ambition.

 

Darren Kelly A joke of an appointment handled pathetically and stinks of rying to save a few quid.

 

Re-signing: Croft and Wellens Both well past it jobs for the boys and obvious external interference.

 

Dunn: A mistake from the start.

 

The Stand: It should have been OAFCs moment to savour, it should be Simon Corneys legacy. Instead it will be remembered for delay after delay. It feels like an anti-climax when it should be celebrated for the wonderful achievement it is!

 

Barry Owen: Need I say any more?

 

 

I know times have changed in football and many clubs of our size live hand to mouth, I can cope with that. Thats the reality of 3^rd tier football however, the clubs very identity is at stake. A procession of loanees year on year kills any affinity people feel with the club. I assure you that, the team yesterday would not have witnessed such vitriol if it wasn't so top heavy with loanees and short term deals. Fans can see when players are holding back and not giving their all. That is a bare minimum we expect. Oldham is a hard working town but not a well paid town. £22 + travel + refreshments is a large chunk of your average Oldhamers income, they deserved more yesterday.

 

I can honestly say in my 30 years of supporting the cub I have never felt so detached from the club, The fans, owners, directors, management, coaches and players have never felt so distant. Why? Well just what is our aim as a club? What is the vision to move the club forward? What is the vision to make the club sustainable in a way that will see crowds improve? Some fans are gone for good BUT there is a big interest in the club in Oldham, many fans cant afford it or are lapsed but a modicum of success or even consistent attacking football will see people return. Make the product marketable with a team the fans can identify in and some will return.

 

How do we change things and move forward?

 

(1) Have an owner that is either here more often or delegates true power to the board can the present directors be trusted to do this?! If not show true desire to find a viable owner that can do the above.

 

(2) Develop a manageable vision statement how the club will move forward in the next THREE to FIVE years

 

(3) Employ a manager and coaching team with an ethos of attacking and scoring goals not simply to go out and not lose. Like it or not this has been the ethos of our last FOUR full time managers.

 

(4) Insist home grown talent gets a chance on merit. Contracted players are OUR players so why the need for a constant stream of short term deals and loanees? Emergency loans should be just that. Not used as an excuse to bin the previous managers contracted players.

 

(5) Reintroduce reserve team football to help develop our own players and keep the squad fit.

 

(6) Stop treating the fans like idiots with the constant criticism in the press.

 

I do have sympathy for a lot of what Simon Corney has had to put up with in the last 6 years since his partners pulled out but if we keep with the present board we will continue to stagnate and slip towards oblivion. I know Simon doesnt want that and Im sure one day he will be very proud of his legacy the North Stand. Will he be as proud to see us struggling in league 2 next season, because with the current board and management structure it is inevitable?

 

I feel we have reached a tipping point over the last few weeks, fans are voting with their feet the Millwall attendance will be sub 3,000 I guarantee it. After what I have seen at Chesterfield and yesterday with fans arguing with themselves and the reaction the players got. You know what I simply dont want to be part of such a toxic set up. So with a heavy heart Im going to take a break from following the team I love away from home initially, until I see a change in atmosphere and maybe even home games too, season tickets or not.

 

I know I'm not alone, there's a close group of about ten of us that go everywhere that number has dwindled massively over the last month - many of us have missed only 6 games or so in the last three years and when lunatics like us are fed up and walking away, I really do think it is time to sit up and take notice.

Excellent post.

I was one of the 30 or so that hired a coach and went down to Torex in Banbury to remonstrate with that :censored: Chris Moore back in 2003 and the feeling I have now is not too dis-similar to how I felt back then. As much as I appreciate what Simon Corney and his mates have done since those dark days I feel it's time for us loyal fans to get together and do something? How much would it cost for a supporter buy-out and is it possible?

Yesterday was the straw that broke the camels back for me, sack the board!

The wife has plans for me, I've never been so keen on a trip to the Traff Centre. In fact, :censored: that who are Mossley playing?

Could be an interesting atmosphere if both teams play :censored: then.

Is anyone that insane that they're actually considering going? I go to most games on my Todd these days (including yesterday) after all my mates :censored:ed it off, but Sheffield feels about as far away as the moon at the moment to follow that lot of spineless :censored:.

I'll have some of that if the players all club together and pay for my ticket, travel & half time pie. After yesterday I expect nothing less. If not they can :censored: right off and I'll stay at home and be miserable instead.

Was that when he was a player?

Yes, but it was on a brown muffin.

Saw him in Harlequin cafe once ordering a spam & egg. Legend!

I turned my ankle when I jumped off the settee when that winner went in, you bastard Philliskirk!

1-1

Sounds dire on the wireless, or is it just the commentators voice making it sound dull?

Or 1-0 depending which way you want to look at it, Chesterfield scored

0-1

Ask him if he fancies a game at Chesterfield tomorrow

carefull that could be constituted as child abuse in some quarters !

 

 

only joking well done you for making someones day

 

Those with spare tickets, give them away outside the ground. It happened to me once when I was a kid and it was a mint day I felt rich as :censored: because I didnt need to spend on a ticket.

So now I always make sure to do it whenever I end up with a spare, its not the same feeling but it is still quite satisfying.

Ive still got a free U16 ticket if anyone needs it?