Trust’s praise for Sheridan

John Sheridan

ATHLETIC’S fans’ group have hailed the way the “Shezurrection’ has helped banish memories of a “terrible” year.

In a letter submitted to the Chronicle, Trust Oldham detailed their delight at the work undertaken by manager John Sheridan and his assistant Peter Shirtliff in saving the troubled club from relegation with two games to spare.

The dramatic upturn in fortune has come after a 12-month period that featured abject home form on the pitch, with four separate managers taking charge of the side. The Ched Evans affair also saw the club receive negative publicity.

The Trust — who now have Simon Brooke as their board representative, taking on the role from Barry Owen — are focused on better times ahead and hope to become more prominent in 2016-17, while still pushing to raise another £10,000 for a new score board at SportsDirect.com Park.

‘INTERESTING’

“The season has been an interesting one that’s for sure, and despite everything that’s happened, we probably finish it in a stronger position than we started it,” the letter reads.

“Everyone involved at the club deserves a pat on the back for that, especially the team and management staff.

“The Shezurrection has been a superb focus for the fans, who have been excellent home and away as always. As a fan group we have to move on from what was a terrible 12 months from January 2015 to this one. Of course not everything is rosy, but that time is gone now and we must all look forward.

“As Shez himself has said we have to raise our sights as a whole and play our part in creating a positive atmosphere. We’ll be looking to do just that at the Trust over the next season.

“Our profile is growing each month and we have a talented board of directors at the Trust who are focused on creating an effective and relevant organisation.

“We have to do more, and with the support of the fans we can do.

“Our current focus is on finishing the season strongly with a final push on the Scoreboard Fund, allowing the Trust to purchase a board that can help us generate revenue for more fan initiatives next season.

“There are a final group of rewards, including an end of season dinner, that have been launched this week and we need everyone especially fans and businesses to help us raise another £10,000 through May.”

Brooke’s first season as fan representative has also been hailed as unheralded, but effective.

“It’s been a very difficult season for Simon’s first season, but it has also confirmed for us that we definitely have the right person in place,” the letter continued.

“Simon has a truly difficult job, the most difficult of all the directors, yet he has done a remarkable job this season and his impact around the club and fan base has been extremely positive.

“His work often goes unnoticed and uncredited, but he is someone who is making great strides on behalf of the Trust and Latics fans.

“We feel the club are fortunate to have had him in place particularly for this season.”

Meanwhile, Sheridan has missed out on the Sky Bet League One manager of the month prize for April.

Scunthorpe’s Graham Alexander won the award, with Curtis Main also overlooked for the player prize in favour of Wigan striker Will Grigg.