“YOU can tell by the face I’m excited to be here,” was how Frankie Bunn – beaming from ear to ear — described walking back into Boundary Park having finally landed the top job.

“It’s the third time of asking for me,” he said, referring to previous applications in the recent past.

“I’ve come close a couple of times and have been desperate to get into management.”

His links to the club are obvious. Bunn made 88 appearances, scoring 35 goals between 1987 and 1990.

And although undoubtedly proud of his exploits as a player – Bunn was part of the all-conquering Athletic side that swept to its only Wembley final – he appears almost embarrassed whenever his six goals against Scarborough crop up in conversation.

You get the impression Bunn is very much a man who looks forward, rather than back to the bygone halcyon days of the pinch-me season.

Back then, mullet hairstyles and shell suits were the height of fashion. Now they’re consigned to history with good reason.

Things move on – as things so desperately need to for Oldham Athletic.

Bunn said: “I have some great memories from my time as a player here. I’ve been back a few times and I’ve always had an affinity with the club.

“But we are not looking back – we are looking forward now. We’re going to have to change the culture, certainly in terms of mentality.

“We will try to introduce a winning culture again at the club which has been missing for a number of years.”

When he says “we”, Bunn means with help from the owner, Abdallah Lemsagam, who himself is a man with a fresh outlook on the club having only taken over six months ago.

“Abdallah shares the same principles as me,” added Bunn, now with a more serious demeanour.

“He likes hard work, passion and enthusiasm. So if we can do that I’m sure we can get supporters excited again.

“We’re not going to set targets too early too soon. What I will say is we’ll try and perform better – we’ll try and change that culture and get back to how it was a number of years ago, even though we’re not going back to the past – we’re looking forward, trying to create a clean slate for everybody and take it from there.

“Both Abdallah and myself want to be successful and that’s the plan so far.

“Abdallah thinks highly of the club. He’s told me that not one person is bigger than the club so he has the club’s best interests at heart.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous but I’m not here to be a failure.”

The smile returns. Let’s hope it stays.