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Paul Scholes has vowed to use his Manchester United contacts as he takes his first steps into management with boyhood club Oldham Athletic.
The Old Trafford legend has signed an 18-month deal to take over at the League Two outfit and admitted that he would be calling his old employers for advice – and players.
‘I’ll be trying to do that,’ said Scholes, who is understood to have been instrumental in a move for young United starlet Zak Dearnley, who scored on his Oldham debut on Saturday.
Paul Scholes held his first press conference as Oldham Athletic manager on Monday afternoon
The new boss was presented with a Latics shirt with his name on it at his unveiling
‘Zac has come in and scored his first goal,’ he added. ‘You need contacts at this level all over the place. Not just Man United.
‘I’m close to (academy boss) Nicky Butt and the people at united, if they can help me I’m sure they will.’
Scholes, who has stepped down as a director at Salford City but who will retain his 10% stake in the National League club, added he had received messages of support from his fellow owners and Class of ’92 members.
‘They’ve just wished me good luck,’ he said. ‘They just want me to do well, like they are in the jobs they’re doing – we all want each other to do well.’
Scholes sat alongide owner Abdallah Lemsagam (right) and new assistant Mick Priest (left)
Scholes takes over at Oldham after being linked with the club he supported as a boy a number of times previously.
‘I just feel ready, really,’ he said.
‘There’s been times in the past where it’s been an option but it didn’t feel right. I wanted my full coaching badges which I’ve got now.’
During a delay to his appointment, caused by the EFL investigating whether his role at Salford constituted a conflict of interest, Scholes, who won 20 major trophies with United, has been a keen spectator.
It is the first senior managerial post held by the former Manchester United midfielder
Oldham are currently 14th, nine points from the play-off places and 14 points away from the relegation zone.
They face Yeovil Town at Boundary Park tomorrow night. ‘I’ve watched the team closely,’ Scholes said.
‘I think they’re a good team, good players, it should be pushing for promotion. It might be out of reach this season but certainly next season.’
Scholes said he wanted to entertain Oldham’s fans with his brand of football: ‘I want my team to be aggressive and focused on winning first and foremost. I know it’s not going to happen every week, but I go into every game expecting to win.
Scholes was confirmed as the new manager of Oldham, 15th in League Two, on Monday
‘I go into every game expecting my team to entertain, I want to be entertained on the side and plenty of fans want to be entertained and I’ll be thinking about scoring goals.’
Scholes lives in Oldham and is keen to revive the Premier League founder members who are playing in the fourth tier for the first time since 1971.
‘I have a lot of passion for this town,’ he said. ‘I live 15 minutes away from here. I know it’s been 20-30 years since there’s been excitement here. It’s always seemed to be fighting relegation. It’s been difficult. Like every other manager – I want to change it and I hope I can do that.’
When asked if he could return Oldham to a Premier League they left in 1994, Scholes was measured.
Scholes met fans and posed for pictures outside Boundary Park ahead of his press conference
‘That’s not my target,’ he said.
‘My target is to beat Yeovil tomorrow night. That’s a long way away. You have to have that ambition. Fans will have that ambition. The town back then was brilliant, it was a great place to be. We want those times back again but there’s a long way to go. It will be difficult.’
Scholes, who spent his whole career at United, raised a smile when asked if he would struggle to translate his message to players who may not have his own ability.
‘I don’t know because I’ve not done it yet!’ he said.
‘It’s football isn’t it? I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t feel excited by the team. The basics apply at all levels. I’m excited about the team. I think there’s a team here capable of doing really well.
The former England international midfielder has agreed an 18-month contract at the club
Scholes will be assisted by Mick Priest, who was a coach at United’s academy while Scholes was at Old Trafford. Priest has also worked in Israel and Norway and was formerly a first team coach at Fulham.
Oldham, relegated last season, sacked Frankie Bunn in December and academy coach Pete Wild has been in caretaker charge while the club looked for a new permanent manager.
Previous managers at the club are understood to have been hampered by boardroom interference, and Scholes is understood to have been assuranced that there will be no meddling from owner, Dubai-based Moroccan former agent Abdallah Lemsagam.
Lemsagam said: ‘Paul has won everything there is to win in football. He is a man who will bring a lot of footballing knowledge and his hunger to succeed in management will be there for everyone to see.’
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