Getting promotion with Oldham will trump anything I did as a player
FOOTBALL IT’S WIN OR GET BINNED
PAUL SCHOLES has revealed winning promotion to League One with Oldham would rival winning the Champions League and Treble in 1999.
The legendary Manchester United midfielder is putting his reputation on the line to become the latest in a long line of Oldham managers who have come and gone at Boundary Park.
But far from being pessimistic about the chances of success at a club that stands in the shadow of Manchester giants United and City, Scholes says he’s driven by the prospect of success in the dugout.
“If I managed a promotion out of League Two with Oldham it would rival anything I’ve done as a player,” he said.
“That might sound weird to people because you are talking about winning Champions Leagues and league titles and cups at the very highest level.
“But this is something I would be achieving as a manager myself. Well, not just myself because you have coaches and a team around you, the players, fans and owner, but responsibility for the team rests with the manager.
“Achieving a promotion here would be right up there with anything I’ve ever done as a player.”
Since his early days in the spotlight at Old Trafford, Scholes has always shunned t he celebrity lifestyle of the e modern- day player, , preferring instead to head d home to his family after r training and matches. Introverted and shy, Scholes, now 44, always let his feet do the talking and left the limelight to others.
But five and a half years after hanging up his boots at United, Scholes confessed boredom had set in and he needed a challenge to light the fire inside him again.
“Yes, I probably was a bit bored,” he said. “I do like my own time if you like and my own company, I’ve always been like that.
“Some people want to have people around them, but I’m not bothered about being on my own.
Ready
“It’s been more than five years since I retired from playing and the time came when I just didn’t want to die wondering.
“That was it for me. I’d thought about it a lot recently and decided the only two clubs I’ve ever wanted to work for were United and Oldham.
“A lot of people have mentioned it and it’s something I have always wanted to do but only at the right time for me.
“Now I feel as though I’m ready. eady. I’m su sure e my yw wife eca Claire e is s pleased to get me out of the house too,” laughed Scholes.
He has also revealed that some friends think he’s crazy for taking on a club widely seen as a basket case.
And he says more than a few have tried to talk him out of taking the job.
“I really wanted to take the job and all it entails so I’ll find out for myself,” he said.
“I think people might have tried to dissuade me because of the size of the club, its resources and its recent history – it’s been a long time since they had any success.
“I would rather form opinions myself. I had six months with Warren Joyce coaching at United and I found that a really good experience.
“I also spent some time running United’s Under-19s in the youth Champions League with Nicky Butt that, again, was very positive. But it’s all on me now.
“The livelihoods of the players depend on it at this level so hopefully it will go well.” PAUL SCHOLES reckons having a contract is a waste of time in the high-risk, short-term world of football management.
And he knows he’ll be just another casualty if results don’t go well.
Scholes said: “Nothing is guaranteed, I know that. I’m not stupid. I’ve been in football a long time.
“I could win the first six games or lose the next six and I could be sacked in six weeks or six days – who knows in this game? “I’ve signed 18 months but a length of contract is probably a waste of time in football management.
“There is an expectation because I am here – even though I’ve not managed. But from what I’ve seen so far it’s realistic to think we can improve.
“Usually when you come into a football club in these circumstances confidence is very low and it’s a bit of mess but that’s not the case here.
“With the players we have and seeing how they’ve trained and then played at Yeovil we should be in a better position in the League.”
Scholes has also defended Class of ‘92 pal Gary Neville for his “brave” decision to manage Valencia in Spain.
Neville was manager of the La Liga side for less than four months after taking the job in December 2015, winning ten and losing eleven of his 28-game spell.
Scholes said: “Gary was very brave going to manage in Spain when you don’t speak the language.
“His results weren’t as bad as people seem to think. They were playing against quality teams as well which was really difficult.
“He worked with Roy Hodgson with England, so he has some good experiences and he’s always on the end of the phone for advice, if I want.”