Conlon signs on the dotted line

Latics have snapped up Tom Conlon from Port Vale.

Conlon becomes Micky Mellon’s first permanent outfield signing as Latics boss, signing a two-and-a-half year deal.

The 27-year-old arrives at Boundary Park with a host of honours to his name, including Port Vale’s Player of the Year in 2021, PFA Fans' Player of the Year in 2021/22, and was part of the Vale squad which won the League Two Play-Offs in 2022.

Manager Mellon was ecstatic to finally get the deal over the line.

“A lot of work has gone into this transfer and I’m very pleased that we’ve got the type of player we need," Mellon said.

“We want to bring in players we believe can help ensure this group keeps moving forward and I’m delighted that Tom has chosen us as the next move in his career.

“We’ve been looking for an all-round footballer, character is a big part of that and Tom has got that.

"The more personalities we can bring in like Tom and with the qualities he possesses, the quicker we will progress.

“He’s a very talented player and I’m glad we’ve been able to bring a player of this calibre to Oldham.

"We want to keep improving the players we have got and supplement that with ones we are able to bring in from outside.”

Born in Staffordshire, Conlon came through the ranks at Peterborough United before joining Stevenage, initially on loan before making the move permanent.

He clocked up 61 appearances in League Two for ‘Boro before moving to Vale Park in 2018.

Operating in midfield, he’s been a regular in Vale’s starting XI, having made nearly 200 appearances for the club.

Described as a midfielder with defensive and attacking qualities, his best season in terms of goalscoring came in 2020/21, when he found the net on ten occasions from the middle of the park.

Conlon admitted that the gaffer played a huge part in his decision to make the switch to Boundary Park.

"When I spoke to the manager he said where the club wants to go and it's something that really got me excited," he said.

"That's what sold it to me straight away.

"But let's be real, we're in the National League now, we need to focus on winning the next game and seeing where that takes us.

"From a personal point of view I want to try to get myself in the team as quickly as possible.

"I know the lads are doing really well of late, so that's my personal goal, but where the club wants to go to is something that I was definitely really excited about.”

Conlon will wear squad number 32.

Meanwhile, Latics goalkeeper Dan Langley has extended his loan at Blyth Spartans until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old initially joined the National League North side in December and has been part of a team which has registered three consecutive wins.

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