JOE Royle has spoken of his joy after his shock return to Oldham Athletic.
The ex-City boss, who has been out of the game for nearly three years, turned the little Latics into a top-flight club and enjoyed some of the best years of his managerial career at a ground he dubbed Ice Station Zebra.
And he has been given the task of trying to guide them into the League One play-offs after yesterday's sacking of John Sheridan.
Royle, who has initially been given the job until the end of the season, told M.E.N. Sport: "I'm absolutely delighted to be returning. We had a marvellous romance there between 1982 and 1994.
"It was 12 fantastic years when we twice went to semi- final replays. In fact it was remarkable that we even got to those games.
"I am 59 years of age and still bright and have so much I believe I can offer.
"The ball is still round, footballers still play and I am still seven years younger than the greatest manager of them all - Sir Alex Ferguson."
The Latics' hierarchy took just five hours to sign up Royle as temporary boss until the end of the season after axing Sheridan following Saturday's 6-2 drubbing by MK Dons.
Chief executive Alan Hardy and managing director Simon Corney met Royle, who had travelled from his home in West Lancashire, at the Marriott Worsley Park Hotel for hush-hush talks yesterday.
Career
Royle added: "Money has never been an issue with me throughout my career. It was just a case of them matching my TV earnings and one or two other things and then I readily agreed."
Hardy said: "We just said to Joe that we would like him to come back and he replied `yes, of course I will.' We're all delighted."
And Corney added: "We needed someone to come into the club quickly to lift the mood of the supporters and with Joe Royle's history here there was no-one better."
Asked if everything goes well and Oldham win promotion, would he consider staying on, Royle said: "It's too early to say. I have been appointed to the end of the season and then let's just see how it goes. But you should never say never in football."
Corney said axing Sheridan was a "tough decision" taken because Latics have fallen out of the promotion play-off places.
The club denied the move had anything to do with the infamous club trip to Belle Vue dogs earlier this month where Sheridan was said to have scuffled with striker Lee Hughes and captain Sean Gregan is reported to have lunged at young winger Chris Taylor.
One player was fined two weeks' wages and two others given severe warnings after club officials viewed CCTV footage and quizzed track officials.
A club source said: "When John Sheridan was told he about our decision he said he thought it was a bit harsh but he fully understood why it had to be made and we part as friends."
Saturday's defeat was Oldham's heaviest of the season and Royle, who has also been in charge at Everton and Ipswich, now has nine games to secure a play-off place for the Boundary Park outfit.
He has agreed to keep Tommy Wright as assistant manager and Lee Duxbury as reserve team coach.
How do you think Royle will do? Have your say.
Royle back at Oldham
March 15, 2009
Comments
Login or Register to comment
I am not an Oldham fan but am pleased to see Big Joe back in charge, I met him at City when he was a real gent and had time for fans like me.
He did fall out with City when he tried to claim Premiership wages for the years left on his contract when he was sacked even though City had just been relegated.
Put most City fans assume he was badly advised and have fond memories of him.
Good luck Joe, the back to back promotions at City were the most exciting seasons I can remember.
Man City legend, great appointment!
Sheridan had to go! This appointment is great news! Joe will get Oldham playing again! I predict promotion via the play-offs!
Good luck to Joe, - great memories of his days at City & Latics.
Lets hope some of the fans that deserted the Ice Station find their way back !
Sad to see Shez go but i think he had totally run out of ideas and the time had come for a new face and what a great decision it has been, roll onand upwards with BIG FAT JOE'S BARMY ARMY.
He should be able to a decent job as he built them up on a shoestring last time and the cupboard is still bare all these years on.
He's a liability with a cheque book though.
Latics problems started when he started spending premier league money on tosh.. Kilcline, Pointon, Sharp, Olney, Redmond, Brennan, Beckford, McCarthy, McDonald and re-signing Milligan & Holden to name but (quite a) few...
I'm a City fan, but think the Latics have done a great piece of business bringing Joe Royal back, look out for them to have a very exiting season next year, good luck Joe.
Good luck Joe......he did a great job at City under bizarre and difficult circumstances. Royle/Bernstein/Bird was City through and through...shame it all ended on a bad note.
hope Joe does a good job and brings in Asa Hartford as assistant when he becomes permanent
I am as blue as they come and think you have a good man in Joe returning.
GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK JOE. ALWAYS REMEMBER HAVING A DRINK WITH YOU IN A CERTAIN CLUB IN SHAW AFTER BEATING LEEDS WHEN ANDY THE GREAT RITCHIE SCORED AND FONDER MEMORIES OF THE DAY AT WEMBLEY EVEN THOUGH MARK HUGHES SPOILT IT, AND SINCE THAT DAY WE HAVE FALLEN FOM THOSE DIZZY HEIGHTS. HOPE YOU CAN RAISE THE PLAYERS TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND TO BE PROUD TO WEAR THE OLDHAM ATHLETIC SHIRT. SORRY SHEZ HAS LEFT BUT LIFE COULDN,T GO ON AT BOUNDARY PARK LIKE IT HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. SHEZ, I JUST HOPE YOU HAVE LEARNED BY YOUR MISTAKES AND MAKE A COMEBACK ELSEWHERE AND PROVE YOUR WORTH. THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR OLDHAM BOTH AS A PLAYER AND A MANAGER.
Best of luck Joe you are a CITY LEGEND, the team of 77' was one of the best CITY sides I have ever seen Corrigan,Booth,Donachie,Doyle,Watson,Hartford,Kidd,Tueart,Royle,Barnes,Owen .... some fans also forget but for Joe the pivitol moment in 99' when we beat Gilligham in the 2nd div play off final we would not now be in the Premier League,I hope everything goes well for you Joe and thanks for your time at MCFC..,.
Great news. Absolutely great news.
A couple of years ago Joe was in a local hostelry and was told that my mate's dad, a lifelong Latics fan who was ill and close to the end, was in another room. Joe had never met my mate's dad before, but stopped his night out, went over and proceeded to have a good long chat about the glory years we all fondly remember and a couple of pints. I think that's a pretty fair reflection of the kind of man we've got back.
Happy days down Sheepfoot Lane again.
Keep the Faith.
Welcome back Joe, The Blue And White Army will be back at Boundary Park on Saturday.
Great news. As a City fan now living in Preston, Oldham have always been my second team. Good luck Joe.
Good luck Joe, a nice man, I have met him on two occasions at different periods of my younger life and have great memories of when he managed City.
Just like to say, all the best joe, I am a lifelong blue & you helped to save our club from having years in the wilderness, I certainly hope you can bring success to the latics again.
Good luck Joe
I followed Oldham Athletic home and away between 1968 and 1982.
We fought at York and Rotheram. QPR was a jol and Hull stank of fish. The greatest player that I ever saw was Alan Groves. I never saw The Latics in the premiership and Jimmy Frizzzel was in charge when I emigrated.
Joe, Please get us back up there. Watching Oldham in the premiership would be a dream come true.
Good luck Joe