Gunning earns Latics contract

OLDHAM Athletic have completed the signing of defender Gavin Gunning on a shortterm deal.

The 24-year-old had been on trial since being released by Birmingham at the end of last season.

The former Bury loanee goes straight into Latics’ squad for tomorrow’s League One opener at Walsall and he is glad to earn a deal

“I’m looking forward to the start of the season and, hopefully, I can do well whilst I’m here,” said Gunning.

“There is a good group of lads at the club and I’ve enjoyed it since I’ve been in so I’m looking forward to getting going.”

Meanwhile, manager Darren Kelly feels Jim Harvey’s exit was the best move for the club.

After just a couple of months on Kelly’s coaching staff, Harvey left his role as scouting and recruitment consultant this week.

The ex-Stalybridge Celtic manager was brought in to add experience to the young managerial duo of Kelly and Dean Holden, but the Oldham boss wasn’t convinced things were working out.

“With the new season approaching we just felt this was the right thing to do,” he said.

“Myself and Dean are very modern-thinking coaches with how we like to do things. We like to be very proactive and hands-on in training and Jim, unfortunately, didn’t fit into that.

“We’re confident going forward with the staff we have in place.”

After David Dunn’s arrival last week, many fans wondered if the 35-year-old would take up a coaching role.

“You can never say never but I’ve not thought about anything like that,” said Kelly. “We just need to get him fit and raring to go.”