Lemsagam speaking to 'credible bidders' about selling Oldham Athletic

Abdallah Lemsagam

Oldham Athletic owner Abdallah Lemsagam says he is speaking to 'credible bidders' about the sale of the club, after admitting his ownership has caused 'unrest'.

In a statement on the club's website, Lemsagam says activity on the pitch has 'not gone how I wanted in the last four years' but says he won't make 'excuses'.

The statement follows unrest within fan groups about the direction and management of the club under Lemsagam's control.  Last month, a ban on three fans for criticisng the ownership was rescinded following protests.

The club currently sits at the bottom of Skybet League Two, and face becoming the first club to have played in the Premier League to be relegated to the National League.

Lemsagam became Oldham Athletic owner in Jan. 2018. Since acquiring Oldham, Lemsagam has appointed his brother, Mohamed, as sporting director and employed nine different managers.

The last few months have been marked by pitch invasions, sit-ins on the centre circle, tennis balls thrown from the stands and fans turning up to the ground dressed as clowns.  A coffin emblazoned with the words “RIP OAFC” was placed outside the entrance to the main stand ahead of Oldham’s game against Hartlepool in September.

Abdallah Lemsagam statement in full:

"Since I purchased the club four years ago I have invested money and time trying to clean the club of all of its historic issues. There were very many. Although that work goes on behind the scenes, it is now almost complete with only the North Stand issue to resolve. I have invested in the litigation process and that may need a court to rule on it to get justice for the club and recover what rightfully belongs to it.

"On the playing side, things have not gone how I wanted in the last four years, to say the least. I made mistakes and I won’t make excuses - we are where we are.

"In the short term, I am now focused on improving the squad to fight the relegation battle we are now in.

"In the medium term, I can see that my ownership has caused unrest within the club and the fans. I want the best for the club and I think the best for the club is that it is now passed on to new owners. My team is speaking to certain credible bidders and I am happy to speak to others.

"I would ask that every section of the fan base gets behind the team, whatever you think about me it is in everyone's interests that our great club wins this battle.

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