Oldham and Crawley fans receive a threat in the latest Latics club statement ahead of the two sides’ final game of the season.
Those at the top of the Boundary Park outfit are hoping not to see a repeat of the pitch protests like we saw in the match against Salford City which confirmed Oldham’s relegation.
Supporters stormed the pitch to protest against the club’s owners, with players taken off by referee Bobby Madley with some fans sitting down in the centre-circle, despite appeals from boss John Sheridan to return to the stands.
Protests remained in place for some time after, but once the pitch had been cleared, the teams returned to play out the remaining time behind closed doors.
With supporters still furious at seeing Oldham becoming the first former Premier League club to be relegated out of the English Football League, another on-pitch protest is the last thing the owners want to see.
Following a meeting with the SAG (Safety Advisory Group) today the following strong measures are in place again for this weekend’s fixture. #oafc https://t.co/mjfmpg5jgf
— Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) May 4, 2022
OLDHAM STATEMENT:
After a meeting with the SAG (Safety Advisory Group) today the following strong measures are in place again for this weekend’s fixture (Saturday 7 May – 3pm KO).
There will be no pay-on-the-day facility for both sets of supporters and tickets need to be bought at the discounted rate online before tomorrow (Thursday 5 May at 11:59pm).
Please note, that the Ticket Office will be open on Thursday from 10am till 4pm for sales in person before purchases are suspended from Friday, the day before the fixture.
To purchase your tickets online in advance, please visit the relevant link by clicking below. On advice, there will be no further ticket sales in the Joe Royle Stand (North Stand) for this game with current tickets already bought still valid.
In addition, no alcohol sales will be allowed inside Boundary Park on Saturday.
Mandatory searches will be carried out in all stands as supporters enter through the turnstile.
As a reminder, it is still a criminal offence to enter the field of play as well as throw objects onto it.
As a result, the Ticket Office will also be closed on Saturday due to matchday sales not being permitted.
Ticket collections for the game can be made on the day from midday until kick-off at the Club Shop. This is situated in the corner of the Joe Royle Stand on the opposite side of the ground.
Oldham Athletic apologises again for the inconvenience caused, with all of the above information being shared as soon as it was possible.
Two Oldham Athletic supporters’ groups are to boycott home games next season, unless there is a change of ownership.
“The plain and simple fact here, following our relegation to the National League, is that a clear line must be drawn in the sand. Or perhaps in this case, a line must be drawn in the stand,” a joint statement from PTB read.
“We encourage people to read this entire statement, obviously, but the take-away message is clear…please consider very carefully whether purchasing a season ticket for next season is the right thing to do. We are asking fans to strongly consider a boycott of Boundary Park for the 2022/23 season.
“Oldham Athletic Football Club will start next season in the fifth tier of English football, a league where some teams operate on a semi-professional basis, only training twice a week (once if there is a game) and we could even be competing against teams such as Brackley Town and Maidstone United.
“Could this situation have been avoided? Yes, this 100 per cent could have been avoided. In reality, in the vast majority of cases relegation can always be avoided in some way shape or form.
“Our relegation was not sealed by bad referees, missed penalties or late goals we’ve conceded. Our relegation was sealed because of a fundamental failure from the people at the top of the club. This wasn’t well intentioned decisions that turned sour, this was down to neglect, plain and simple.
“The decision to take an EFL loan has crippled us in the transfer market and ultimately played a large part in our demise, but let us be honest and say that given the hierarchy at the club, we were already crippled to a considerable extent.
“This week, we have seen club statements released in consecutive days. The first stated how relegation represented a ‘complete failure’ and asking for support following our relegation to the National League, the second stating that any fan who ran on the pitch would be searched for, found and banned from Boundary Park. It is clear that within the club, the ability to keep their finger on the pulse and to gauge the mood of supporters is as absent as it has been at any point over the last four years.

Oldham and Crawley fans receive threat in club statement ahead of final game of season
“We have also seen John Sheridan appointed as manager for the 2022/23 season.
“John is always a welcome face at Boundary Park for everything he’s done.
“He was hamstrung upon his return and the finger of blame doesn’t point in his direction, but we thank him for coming back and trying.
“We understand that John’s intentions are well meant and he just wants the best for the club and its long suffering supporters, how can you not love him for that?!
“We obviously wish John all the best for next season, but a line must be drawn here.
“We backed him in our fight, but we can’t allow John to be used as a pawn by the owner and the board, who will inevitably cast him off when it suits them. He deserves better than that. We are in this battle for the long haul and can’t be thrown off course by short-termism.
“A poll conducted in the week by Oldham Times reporter Suzanne Geldard, said only 46 per cent of fans (based on 631 responses) wanted to see John back in the dugout for next season.
“As we have stated on numerous occasions, it is the decision of each and every supporter to make their own decision with their own money, and no one else should judge them for that either. However, based on all the facts presented above, we feel people should think long and hard about whether the club have given us all enough confidence and satisfaction that attending home games next season is the way forward.
“Push The Boundary along with the Athleticos will be boycotting Boundary Park next season to send a clear message to the owner that we haven’t forgotten his promise to sell the club and also to show that despite an up-turn in attendances and atmosphere, this was to fight for survival, and not a signal that the opinion towards him has changed in any sense.
“The contingency fund has been set up as a joint measure from both OASF and PTB to raise money for a specific set of reasons and we live in hope that this will give OASF, a 3 per cent shareholder of the football club, access to the negotiating table as and when required.
“We have seen a number of amazing donations in recent days/weeks and for those that won’t be purchasing a season ticket, we would encourage you to donate to this fund, as it will give supporters a much bigger voice when deciding our future. It is abundantly clear that this represents the way forward.
“We’ve had another busy week with good conversations and despite our relegation, the mood amongst PTB is one of defiance and determination to finish the battle that we started in November 2019. There are great people in this fanbase, clever people who want the best for the future of the club and we have been fortunate to speak to and meet a lot of you, and it’s now time to give those people a platform to create the club we all deserve.”

Oldham and Crawley fans receive threat in club statement ahead of final game of season
John Sheridan meanwhile has revealed what it was like inside the dressing room during the last home game after fans invaded the pitch.
“I can 100 per cent understand their disappointment with all the stuff that’s been going on a long time before I even came back,” Sheridan said, as reported by Oldham Times.
“It’s a massive downer for them to see the club fighting relegation nearly all season.
“I’m not someone who gets involved in a lot of politics and talk, I just try to take care of what I try to be good at, if I am any good at it, is managing the football team.
“To see the fans run on, the only thing I was trying to say to them was that there were still 15 minutes to go – 11 minutes plus added time – and still an opportunity of us trying to get back in the game.
“But obviously the fans probably knew the results of the other games but I was just purely saying to them if they could leave the pitch it gives us a chance to go back on the pitch with 15 minutes left.
“If we got a draw we were still involved in it and if we were lucky enough to get a win… but I understand where they’re coming from. I’m not patronising them, I don’t have to keep telling them, they know how I feel. A lot of them know what I’m like as a person.
“If I was watching and supporting I’d be feeling some of the things that they feel at this moment in time. I’ve just got to concentrate on my job. I try not to get too involved in too much, there are people better qualified than me to talk about things going on off the pitch than me.
“There was a possibility if you go out and score and get a draw you’re still in with a chance or still fighting for something,” he explained.
“I ended up talking about referees again. Obviously us getting relegated is a bigger concern but the referee’s spoilt the game completely for me, some of his decisions, and how we should have won.
“It’s happened a few times throughout the season. Port Vale was shocking, the referee, but that’s gone I can’t do anything about it.
“I was thinking about how many chances we missed. Good chances.
“Hallam Hope’s goal that gets disallowed when there’s nothing wrong with it. Their player should get sent off for a ridiculous challenge. And then I’ve got to come in knowing the other teams are winning in and around us.
“The fans came on to the pitch for a reason, to show their anger and their disappointment. They’ve suffered for too long.
“I couldn’t really just leave it on that note.
“I pushed and I thought if I’ve got the chance and they agreed for me to take on the job next year I can start, which I have been doing, little things and analysing where we need to go and what we need to do better.
“If I can give them any belief in what I say I’ll try my best to do that.”
Twitter users reacted as Oldham and Crawley fans receive a threat in a club statement ahead of the final game of the season…
— David ELSE (@DavidELSE13) May 4, 2022
Bazza’s probably a mason innit?! #OAFC #Abdallahout pic.twitter.com/GfluSS6z0x
— OAFCProzac (@oafc_prozac) May 4, 2022
@mills_thesir: Sold the club yet?
@andyt72: Sack Mo, sell the club 🤡
@lukeoafc_: bothered about this but not the stewards breaking the law?
@sambucawasevil: Did the SAG say anything about @SecurityTaurus staff blocking fire exits or just on the game thats not taken place yet maybe @OldhamCouncil or @JimfromOldham can give us a update on blocking of fire exits won’t hold my breath
@LiamGreen___: Keep protesting lads, fighting for your club. Fuck the rules get on that pitch. from a Crawley fan x
@ChorleyOAFC: The three of us were planning to attend the match sitting in what were once our usual seats in the North Stand. A final good bye to the fourth division of English football. Instead we will stay at home. I’d like to thank the club for keeping us safe. #oafc
@leeant2004: Did the SAG have anything to say about the club releasing both home and away fans at the same time after the game for high profile games, pushing the fans “Safety” to @gmpolice to sort out? This puts both set of fans in danger and must be a high additional expense to the club.
@andy171076: I went to my 1st game in the early 80’s when all my mates supported Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool and have been going ever since. Thanks for the memories but I’m done. Please thank the Lemsagams, Mr Owen, Mr Morrallee et al for destroying the club. RIP OAFC
@EvilMing77: Sad seeing a great club like Oldham rotting like this! wishing you all a speedy recovery to L2 hopefully with an owner who cares for the badge. See you all Saturday from the away end 🔴😈⚽️
@DanCorbishley: Will there be any action taken for boarding up fire escapes or have the club been sanctioned for that one? 🤔. That’s a bigger problem than people on the pitch you would have thought.
@oldhamshirts: What about the fire doors being blocked by your security team? What’s been said about that? #oafc
@Savino78: Lads, if you were as committed to selling the club as you are to alienating your own fans, youd have sold the club 112 days ago. Get gone.
@Jmjm803: Here’s an idea. Get out of our club now and nobody will need to go on the pitch and protest. In fact we could all get on with rebuilding and supporting our club that you have ruined. Easy peasy #oafc
@JacckFFC: I urge every fan to enter the pitch #SaveOldham
@MartinO94699750: As anyone tried watching latics recently without a beer inside them?? it actually hurts your eyes!! 🤔🤔🤔😂😂😂
@Pandamonium1881: @OldhamCouncil @EFL @GMPOldham just remind me please what the penalties are for boarding up fire exits in a football stadium with supporters still inside? Genuine question to which it would be interesting to see an answer
@thealsirat: Looking forward to being treated like a criminal because someone else has destroyed my club! 👍
@SteveB2909: These idiots have to be run out of town ASAP SAG my arse! What did they say about blocking fire doors?? Absolutely ruining a once proud club. It’s heartbreaking. #oafc
@LemmiesOut: I’ll be there to protest. Stick your match up your ass
@bringbackngoo: Did the SAG suggest using stewards to use advertising boards to block the turnstiles? #oafc #LemsagamsOUT
@peteharrop7: Seriously a days notice to get a ticket for what’s looking like our last league game at BP for a long time….treat the fans with utter contempt yet again. Ashamed to support this once great club. Please leave and take Barry and his classless statements with you. #oafc

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