Thread by @classifiedryan

🧵 THREAD ON OLDHAM ATHLETIC #OAFC 🧵

I’ve had an interest in Oldham Athletic over the past couple of years. My business partner and best friend, along with his family, are lifelong Oldham fans, so naturally I’m aware of the problems and unrest at the club. 1/

This has snowballed over the last 12 months (to concern) as the club plummets towards the National League. We don’t need to delve too much into the fan/owner relationship to know it is well beyond repair. 2/

My concern is the club will just be passed on from one bad owner to the next, becoming so far removed from the key values that make the club great, that it will eventually meet the same fate as Bury and Macclesfield. 3/

Oldham Athletic represent the town of Oldham. The local fans of this club are the foundation of everything good. It’s cliche but without them the club dies, quickly. A basic principle new-age football owners somehow seem to miss. 4/

Nowadays, football clubs are some of the worst run businesses you will see. They are being bought by unfit owners, sometimes just seeking status, and as a result they use a familIar copy and paste method known as the ego method. 5/

They play owner, manager and director of football, living out their real-life Football Manager dream. This drives erratic decision-making leading to financial pressure, poor performance and loss of club identity. 6/

For clubs like Oldham who aren’t trying to appease worldwide fandom, the local fans should be the centre of the clubs universe. EVERYTHING should be centred around their enjoyment, engagement and feeling valued. 7/

If you zoom out, Oldham’s trajectory is very alarming. Due to their geographical location, the toxicity surrounding the club needs to U-turn rapidly or they will risk losing younger would-be Latics fans to the bright lights of City/United. 8/

The good news is this is reversible (for now). Obviously the club needs new ownership and significant investment. That’s not up for debate. But this alone isn’t enough to get Oldham back to where they need to be. 9/

New *capable* owners, investment and becoming an attractive proposition for sponsors is achievable when problem-solving, creating tangible solutions and building solid foundations meet great potential. Oldham’s potential is huge. 9/

I won’t bore you with the first principle logic of how to transform the fate of Oldham Athletic (yet) but in it’s most basic form and as an underrated starting point - the club needs to be run by people who genuinely give a shit. 10/

So if you are at Scunthorpe away tomorrow, don’t be shy in approaching my business partner, best mate and uber Oldham fan, Lee. We have a great, talented team of people who can certainly help. /End (for now)