Oldham’s new manager speaks for the first time on joining the club

Oldham’s new manager David Unsworth speaks for the first time on joining the club, who have waved goodbye to John Sheridan.

There had been emotional scenes at Boundary Park on Saturday, with the Latics winning 3-2 against Eastleigh in Sheridan’s last game in charge.

As expected, 48-year-old Unsworth has been named the new boss having most recently been under-23s coach at Everton, where he also served as caretaker boss of the first team between appointments.

He takes over with the club 14th in the National League table after three wins from nine games.

👔 Welcome to Latics, David Unsworth! #oafc

— Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) September 20, 2022

CLUB STATEMENT

Oldham Athletic are thrilled to announce the appointment of David Unsworth as the club’s new first-team manager.

Arriving at Boundary Park on a three-year contract, the 48-year-old joins Latics having spent eight years at Everton, where his work in charge of the U23s team has seen him establish a magnificent pedigree as a highly-respected, modern coach.

The former defender, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career at Goodison Park spanning more than a decade, also stepped in to manage the Everton first team on an interim basis in 2016 and 2017. about:blank

The arrival of Unsworth is a tremendously exciting appointment for Latics, heralding the next stage of a new era at Boundary Park as he looks to implement a dynamic coaching philosophy to shape the future direction of the club.

Following his appointment, Unsworth said: “This is the perfect job for me and I’m hugely excited to be joining the club at this time.

“I’ve had opportunities to become a first-team manager at a number of clubs over the past three of four years but they haven’t felt quite right.

“This is the right club, the right fit, with the right owners and board of directors.

“The fanbase has also been a very important factor in my decision to join. I’ve seen the support they have given the team this season and I’m sure they’ll continue to get right behind the team.

“I genuinely think this club is a sleeping giant, one that can climb up not just one league, but two or three, in a short space of time.

“I’m very pleased to be here and I can’t wait to meet the players and get started in the job.”

Unsworth spent the vast majority of his playing career at Everton, winning the FA Cup in 1995 under Latics and Goodison Park great Joe Royle, as well as the Community Shield the following August. 

Following that cup win, he received international recognition with England, establishing himself as one of the most reliable performers in the top division during the first decade of the Premier League.

In total, Unsworth spent 11 years at Everton across two spells, making over 300 appearances and also earning a reputation for his dependability with set-pieces and penalties.

After leaving in 2004, he went on to play for a number of other clubs in the top division, including Portsmouth, Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic, before retiring in 2009.

He began coaching at Bramall Lane before joining the staff at Preston North End, where he also managed the first-team in an interim capacity in December 2010 and 2011.

A return to Everton was next, becoming assistant manager of the U23s, before making the step up to manager in 2014. Over the next eight years, 25 academy players would be given first-team debuts. 

Following the departure of Roberto Martínez as Everton manager in 2016, Unsworth, alongside Joe Royle, took charge of the final game of the season, beating Norwich 3-0.

Just over a year later, he stepped into the Goodison Park hotseat once again, overseeing eight matches after the departure of Ronald Koeman, before returning to the U23s following the appointment of Sam Allardyce.

On the appointment of Unsworth, Latics CEO Darren Royle said: “On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff and supporters, we would like to welcome David to Boundary Park.

“To have secured a manager of David’s standing in the game is a hugely exciting step forward for our club. He is a coach who is held in great esteem and has a marvellous track record for developing young players, which is crucial to our future strategy.

“David brings with him a real winning mentality. He will be key to developing our players and that will ultimately help us win more football matches, aligning with our Purpose and what we stand for as a club”. 

David’s backroom staff will be announced in due course.

As a club, we are extremely delighted to welcome David to Boundary Park. He will meet his squad for the first time today, before taking charge at Bromley on Saturday, followed by a highly-anticipated first home game against Wrexham on 1 October.

Fans gave their reaction as Oldham’s new manager speaks for the first time on joining the club…

@loud_MM91: Let’s all get behind him regardless of who we thought should get the job. Unsworth by all accounts seems like a proper football coach who favours youth. Hopefully he can get some tactical nouse into this squad and we can start climbing the league table. Welcome David

@g4rry_b: Good luck David , exciting times 👏🏻👏🏻

@CammyOA95: Finally seeing something other than 18 months or 1 year deal is refreshing. Looking forward to it! #oafc

@cotterbabe: Welcome to BP. Hopefully you can instill some of your defensive solidity into the team and keep us entertained. Good luck David

@Tommy_Bostock: Welcome to Latics, David. Hopefully your era as manager of this fantastic club is a success! #oafc

@stringer_oafc: I don’t know a great deal about him, but sounds like he comes in with a good coaching background, which can only be a good thing. I’m cautiously optimistic #oafc

@lukedharrison: Developing young players in under 23’s and reserves is a very different proposition to winning games to get out of the National League. Hope Unsworth is the right call. Thanks Jeff. #oafc

@redfern1986: All the best Rhino 🦏💪🏼🔵⚪️

@1rhysparsons: Smart appointment, fresh start. 👌🏾

@priceyefc1: As an Evertonian living round the corner I might see the odd game when we arent playing. Good Luck Rhino

@Wozz77: A new start, new ideas… Give him the time and the backing, this is not gonna be a quick fix.. #oafc

@PanchoTheBandit: Think this is a great appointment personally, on paper it is at least. Good coach, a nice mix of a bit of an old school mentality with first hand experience of working with the younger generation of players. Let’s be patient with him for a change!

@hlblyPete: Any chance of some cheeky young loanees from @Everton 👀

@MAKtGWB1: Fabulous appointment 🎉

@samuelgill25: Three year deal so much needed stability and for me the new manager we need to succeed Sheridan, very smart appointment #oafc

@MartinPalmer57: I hope he does a good job for you.

Good luck to David Unsworth and to Oldham Athletic this season 👍 pic.twitter.com/8wr8z9KzRI

— The Premiership Years (@PremiershipYrs) September 20, 2022

Welcome to #OAFC David Unsworth! Here we are in 2016, after he brought his Everton U21 side including Mason Holgate over to play the Isle of Man FA. Joe Royle with him too. Most of those players currently having good professional careers. Seems a very likeable bloke! Good luck. https://t.co/gEQ89YfaXg pic.twitter.com/hRfq1orlIy

— Dave Mathieson (@davemathieson84) September 20, 2022