Paul Scholes frontrunner for vacant Latics job

Could Scholes be the next Oldham manager?

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes is understood to be the new front runner for the vacant manager’s job at Oldham Athletic with reports suggesting talks have already taken place between him and the club.

It’s been an open secret for several months that the Oldham-born Scholes has been interested in taking the step into management and has applied for the top job at Boundary Park before.

He was considered one of the favourites for the role while Richie Wellens was in temporary charge before the club opted to give Wellens the reins on a full-time basis.

The 44-year old was also spotted at Moss Rose on Saturday, watching Latics lose 2-1 to Macclesfield Town.

Oldham Athletic have been without a manager since they sacked Frankie Bunn hours after a 6-0 thumping at the hands of Carlisle United between Christmas and New Year.

Pete Wild has been in caretaker charge of the side and it was thought he would be offered the chance to take over after leading the club to an unbeaten start to 2019.

But the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Macclesfield on Saturday appears to have dropped him down the pecking order.

Now Oldham Athletic fan Scholes is understood to be in talks with owner Abdallah Lemsagam about the manager’s job, something the 44-year old has said in the past is a position he would be interested in.

Speaking to Sky Sports while still in the running while Wellens was in temporary charge, Scholes said: “It’s not a secret from my side. It is something that interested me.

"Talks went well but they probably interviewed a few people. It was a job that I wanted, it was something I was interested in.”

“It might happen one day, I was hoping it would be this time. I have done all my coaching badges. Why do coaching badges if you don’t want to go into football? It’s something in the future I want to do.”

Since retiring from football in 2013, Scholes has been involved as a co-owner of Salford City FC along with five other member of the 'Class of 92'.