NEW Latics boss Frankie Bunn wants to bring the good times back to Boundary Park – and can’t wait to get started after he was unveiled as Athletic’s seventh manager in less than three years this afternoon.

The former striker, who still lives in the local area, is bidding to catapult Athletic back into League One at the first time of asking following the heartache of relegation to the Football League’s basement division where they haven’t played since 1971.

Bunn, 55, told The Oldham Times: “We just can’t wait to get started. When I was a player here, although that’s a very long time ago now, the team played some fabulous stuff and that will be my style as a manager.

“We’re going to have a go at it and get a bit of excitement around the place.”

Birmingham-born Bunn, who said he hadn’t stopped smiling since being told he’d landed the job yesterday, went down in Latics folklore when he fired a double hat-trick in a 7-0 League Cup third round tie against Scarborough in 1989.

And he’s urged supporters to back the club in what could prove to be a pivotal season. He added: “What I’d say to the fans is get behind us. We’re desperate for them to be with us – they are the life and soul of the football club and we need them.”

In what is his first senior management role after bringing through some talented youngsters at Wigan, Coventry, Manchester City, Rochdale and most recently Huddersfield Town, Bunn insists he is ready to make the step up.

“There are some good young players here,” he said.

“That has been my livelihood for a number of years – but I have worked with senior players as well and been in and around the dressing room all my working life.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work – I’m under no illusions about that. But we want to put some identity back in the place and see where it takes us.”

Bunn wouldn’t be drawn on the identity of who his assistant may be.

“Discussions are ongoing, so we’ll just have to see where the talks take us,” he said.

Athletic owner Abdallah Lemsagam, who flew out to Russia today in time for the big World Cup kick-off tomorrow afternoon, said in a statement: “Frankie knows the club very well from his playing time here and he has a wealth of experience working with young talent which has impressed me.

“I believe he can take the club forward and give Boundary Park something to cheer about.”