Harry Kewell takes the reins at Oldham
Harry Kewell has called for stability at Boundary Park after becoming the sixth Oldham manager in under two years.
The former Leeds and Liverpool striker has signed a one-year deal at the Sky Bet League Two club, with an option to extend.
Kewell succeeds Dino Maamria, who was sacked late on Friday night.
“I’m excited about the project and, don’t get me wrong, it’s going to take time,” Kewell, 41, told the Oldham club website.
“Because the one thing I think this club does need is stability and if we can get that, then we can start to grow things.
“We’ve got to get back to the basics and we’re having a clean slate here now and I think the fans, myself, the owner, everybody wants to start seeing this club progress because we all believe that’s there’s a big potential.”
The Australian made just short of 400 appearances in a distinguished 18year playing career before moving into coaching in 2015.
Kewell was an Under-23s coach at Watford before spells in charge of Crawley and Notts County in League Two.
Frankie Bunn, Pete Wild, Paul Scholes, Laurent Banide – a former Monaco manager – and Maamria have all managed Oldham since December 2018 under the controversial ownership of club owner Abdallah Lemsagam.
Oldham were 19th in League Two when the season was halted in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
West Brom youngster Finn Azaz has agreed terms on a Cheltenham loan move.
Birmingham-born midfielder Azaz, 19, is Cheltenham’s second summer signing following the arrival of veteran striker Andy Williams.
“It has been in the works for a while,” Azaz told the Cheltenham club website.
“It’s something that definitely feels right for me at the moment.
“I’ve been keeping myself fit while I’ve been off during the Covid lockdown, so I am raring to go and I’m ready for the challenge.”