Sheridan wins fans’ support

MAN BEHIND THE MIC . . . Athletic fans turned out in force last night when boss John Sheridan talked at length about Latics and his football career.

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JOHN Sheridan went home happy last night — as did roughly 200 Athletic supporters — after a hugely successful Trust Oldham ‘Meet the Manager’ forum at the Oldham Event Centre at Sports Direct.com Park.

Sitting with assistant boss Peter Shirtliff, Sheridan fielded questions concisely and at times amusingly on a wide range of subjects.

At the end of the two-hour session - and after posing for photographs from almost every fan there - Sheridan said: “These nights are great, but they are also important in offering the supporters a chance to find out a bit more about where I’m coming from. I value their support, of course I do. It was a really good night.”

During an opening session when quizzed by Trust board member and MC Simon Brooke, Sheridan spoke passionately about the soft spot he has for Athletic - and why he would never had say “no” to the chance to return, as happened in January.

The manager still can’t believe Athletic are in the bottom four of league one, he said, but added that his only real focus between now and the end of the season is to drag the team above the division safety line.

Sheridan spoke about the importance of a 20-goal striker, revealed this isn’t the time to be

fielding young players and also insisted that next season Athletic will feature a team in a reserve league - because too many players, he believes, aren’t playing enough games.