Contacts key for Scholes after taking on hometown challenge
NEW Oldham Athletic manager Paul Scholes hopes to tap into former club Manchester United to give his first foray into management a boost.
The 44-year-old has taken the job with his hometown club and been given a one-and-a-half-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.
“You need contacts at this level all over the place, I have a few – not just Man United,” said
Scholes. “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 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.”
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.”