FORMER CREWE FRONTMAN PORTER HEADS BACK FOR LATICS REUNION

STRIKER Chris Porter has joined Oldham Athletic after leaving Crewe.

The 38-year-old scored 54 goals in 189 appearances over five years for the Alex after he was recruited by Dave Artell from Colchester in 2017. But he was released at the end of this last season because Crewe couldn’t guarantee him regular games as new manager Alex Morris rebuilds the squad following relegation from League One.

Porter has linked up with Oldham, the club he represented from 2005 to 07, scoring 31 goals in 75 appearances. He joins a Latics side who are rebuilding in the National League after relegation last season.

Oldham boss John Sheridan, who also managed the striker in his previous spell at Boundary Park, told the club’s official website: “The experience and pedigree that Chris brings speaks for itself and I’m very pleased at being able to add a player of his calibre which is vital as we rebuild the squad.

“Chris has scored goals wherever he has played and as a striker he brings many other attributes in terms of his overall play and contribution to the team. “I’ve worked with Chris before, he is a top professional who demands high standards from everyone around him. That approach to the game has been hugely important in his career and it will make him a key figure for us during the season ahead.” Porter said: “I’m very pleased to be back at the club and I’m looking forward to the new season. I had one of my best seasons under Shez when I was here previously and hopefully I can do that again.

“I’ve spoken a lot to Shez recently, he’s a big part of the reason I have signed and has talked to me a lot about what he wants to do.

“I’ve spent the last five years at Crewe and have been able to score quite a few goals so I’ll be able to bring goals to the team, as well the experience that will hopefully help the youngster players.”

Porter left Crewe on good terms, saying at the time: “I only have good things to say. Obviously this season has not gone the way any of us wanted it to but the previous seasons have been really good and I have really enjoyed my time here.

“I have met a lot of nice people, seen a lot of the young lads come though from the academy through to the first team and then move on. A lot of players have been sold and gone to bigger and better places. It was nice to see that and hopefully I had a bit of influence for some of them to improve their game and help progress them.”

He also left Crewe with the respect of new manager Morris who said at the time: “Being the competitor he is, even at his age, he wants to play lots of football from the start. We couldn’t guarantee that next year.

“He has been a fans’ favourite and rightly so. He has been so important to us over the last five years. I have been in football a long time and I don’t think I have ever come across anybody who is as good a professional as him. “The fact he is 38, has had 20 years in the game and 650 appearances, is testament to the type of professional he is, not just on the pitch, but the way he carries himself off the pitch.”