Scholes appointed manager of fourth-tier Oldham

FORMER Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes has been appointed as manager of Oldham Athletic, the club announced yesterday.

Scholes, 44, is taking on his first managerial role, signing a contract with the club he supported as a boy after spending his entire playing career at Old Trafford. The former Premier League club is languishing in midtable in League Two, the fourth tier of the English game. “Paul has won everything there is to win in football,” said owner Abdallah Lemsagam. “He is a man who will bring a lot of footballing knowledge and his hunger to succeed in management will be there for everyone to see.” Scholes has gained some coaching experience at United since retiring, but has spent most of his time as a television commentator and as a part-owner of fifth-tier club Salford. Oldham is based about 16 kilometers northeast of Manchester and played in the first two Premier League seasons before being relegated in 1994. Scholes has signed a 1-1/2-year contract.