Home supporters number down

A general view of the pitch from the corner flag before at SportsDirect.com Park, Oldham..

THE NUMBER of Athletic fans arriving through the turnstiles at SportsDirect.com Park in 2016-17 was down on last season.

Overall, the average crowd across 23 league games went up from 4,361 to 4,516 - a total of 155 extra fans per fixture.

However, take away the relevant figure for visiting fans - Bolton alone brought 4,214, with Sheffield United very close behind them on 4,210 - and the 'home' figure is less than it had been in 2015-16.

Athletic had an average of 3,622 home supporters at each game in 2014-15; then 3,724 last season; and now, in 2016-17, 3,621.

All three of those above campaigns have featured managerial turmoil.

Lee Johnson left for Barnsley in February, 2015, when he was replaced by Dean Holden.

the start of the 2015-16 season saw Darren Kelly in charge and he was soon replaced by David Dunn, who in turn left with John Sheridan coming back in.

And this season started off with Stephen Robinson in charge, with Sheridan later making a second great escape.

Athletic fans will hope for more entertainment in terms of home goals next season - the teams managed only 19 this term - and will also pray that Sheridan's desire to stay and build a squad can help bring some much-needed stability to the club.