New Oldham boss Scholes keen to use United contacts
NEW Oldham boss Paul Scholes hopes to tap into former club Manchester United to give his first foray into management a boost.
The 44-year-old (below) has taken the job with his hometown club and been given a one-and-ahalf-year contract.
He believes the current squad is good enough to achieve what he wants but it will not stop him using contacts from his playing days at Old Trafford for the odd helping hand.
The Latics — currently 14th in Sky Bet League Two — have Zak Dearnley on loan from United’s academy and the 20-yearold scored on his debut at the weekend.
Asked if he would be using his contacts, Scholes said: “I’ll be trying to do that.
“Zak has come in and scored his first goal on Saturday. He made a big difference in the game so I was really pleased with him as a young player.
“You need contacts at this level all over the place, I have a few — not just Man United.
“I’m close to Nicky (Butt, United’s head of academy) and the people at United, if they can help me I’m sure they will.”
Scholes also has close ties with Salford City along with his fellow ‘Class of 92’ members Gary and Phil Neville, Butt, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.
He did not take any advice from them before accepting the Oldham job, although his move had to first be ratified by the English Football League because of his ownership stake in Salford.
“They just wished me good luck, we haven’t really spoken that much,” added Scholes.
“They just want me to do well, like in the jobs they’re doing; Phil with the (England) women’s team, Ryan with the (Wales) national team and when Gary went to Valencia.
“We all want each other to do well and I hope they want me to do well here too.”
Scholes said there would be no conflict of interest with Salford, even if they did get promoted from the Vanarama National League.
“If Salford got promoted and we don’t, we could play each other, there’s the potential to play each other but it’s never an option,” he said.
“I don’t really do anything at Salford, I’m more of a fan, seeing how the team is doing. I might have to play them one day but I’ll be trying to beat them.
“I can keep the 10 per cent stake. I’ve had to resign as director of the club; I was non-operational and it didn’t really confuse matters. I’m here now to give 100 per cent to Oldham. My main focus is Oldham.”
Scholes lives nearby and Oldham is his father’s club, and that held great sway in persuading him to take his first leap into management.
“I just feel ready. There have been times in the past when it’s been an option for me but it never felt right,” he said.
“I wanted to come into this with my full coaching badges and I’ve got them now. I’ve watched them closely: I think they are a good team and have some good players.
“I know they are mid-table at the minute but with the squad we have it should be pushing for promotion. That might be out of reach this year but certainly next season.”
New colours: Paul Scholes is unveiled as Oldham boss and (above) with Sir Alex
Ferguson at United
Oldham were a Premier League club between 1992 and 1994 but Scholes is not dreaming that big just yet.
“That’s not my target at the moment, my target at the minute is to beat Yeovil tomorrow night,” he said. “It will be difficult to get to that level again but you have to have that ambition. The town was brilliant then, it was a great place to be, full crowds week in, week out, great cup runs.
“We want those times back again, of course we do, but it’s a long way to go.” FORMER Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has taken his first job in management after being appointed boss of League Two side Oldham. Here, we look at five ex-Red Devils who starred under Ferguson before moving into the dugout themselves. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Appointed manager of Molde in 2011, where he won two domestic titles as well as the Norwegian Cup. Had a turbulent eight-and-a-half-month spell at Cardiff in 2014 in which the Bluebirds suffered relegation from the Premier League. He rejoined Molde in October 2015 before being named United interim manager in December 2018 after the sacking of Jose Mourinho. Has won 10 and drawn one of his 11 games.
Steve Bruce: Moved into management in 1998. His first lengthy managerial spell came at Birmingham, where he led the club into the Premier League in 2007. He left in the November of that top-flight campaign, ending up at Wigan. He kept Wigan in the Premier League in the 2007-08 campaign before an 11th-place finish the following year. Spells at Hull, Sunderland and Aston Villa followed and he recently took charge of Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.
Roy Keane: Two-year stints with Sunderland and Ipswich preceded five years as Republic assistant under boss Martin O’Neill. Helped them reach Euro 2016 via the play-offs, but were knocked out 2-1 in the last 16 by France. They relinquished their national roles in November, but have been reunited at their former club Nottingham Forest. Ryan Giggs: Stepped straight from his 24-year playing career at United and became player-coach assistant to new boss David Moyes. Took a caretaker player-manager role until the end of the season, before moving fully into coaching at the club under Louis van Gaal. In January 2018 he succeeded Chris Coleman as Wales manager. Mark Hughes: Nearly led Wales to Euro 2004 during a five-year stint. Had a successful stint at Blackburn before moving to Man City in 2008, where he was eventually replaced by Roberto Mancini. Mixed spells with Fulham, QPR and Stoke followed before he left Southampton in December.