LATICS fans have reacted with dismay after former striker Craig Davies fired an extraordinary parting shot at owner Abdallah Lemsagam over the way he treated the players towards the end of last season.

Davies, 32, who signed for League Two rivals Mansfield last month, vented his anger via social media, whipping up a huge storm of controversy in the process.

Referring to Lemsagam as a “circus owner”, Davies, whose 14 goals in his second stint with the club couldn’t prevent Latics sliding into football’s fourth tier on the final day, said: “I can honestly say in the 14 years I’ve been a professional footballer, I’ve never worked for someone who thinks it’s acceptable to treat his staff and players in such a bad way.

“Calling players into his office and criticising their team mates to them, calling meetings to humiliate other players in front of all the team just days before the most important match of the season.

“Paying players late, then picking which players get paid. This will have an effect on the mood of the club, not just the playing staff but office staff too.

“I feel very sorry for Richie Wellens who was an excellent manager for me but whose hands were clearly tied by the restrictions put on him by the chairman.

“I wish the club (not the owner) nothing but good fortune for the coming season and the future.”

Now fans have had their say.

Tom O’Dea, 35, of Shaw, has been watching Latics for 28 years.

He told The Oldham Times: “Craig Davies is proving what we all suspected — there were divisions and unrest within the dressing room.

“Whatever has gone on, it needs sorting and addressing.

“Getting it right on the pitch and squad unity is so important — the only person who calls the shots and picks the team is now Frankie Bunn.”

Among responses to Davies’ post on Twitter, one fan said: “I’m not expecting Lemsagam to pump loads of money in. But I was hoping he’d run the club in a sensible and dignified manner.”

Another posted: “What’s weird is Lemsagam was an agent, surely he knows how players want to be treated and how players prefer clubs to be ran, instead of causing unrest.”

Other fans said: “Very worrying comments from Craig Davies,” and “Davies is trying to cause division in the camp of a promotion rival. Look at the bigger picture.”

Davies did go on to praise staff and players at Boundary Park and also thanked fans for their backing of the team.

He added: “I want to thank the players I had the privilege of sharing a changing room with – some good characters and some good men in there.

“I also want to thank the staff from John Sheridan and Tommy Wright to Richie Wellens and Paul Terry, the fitness coaches, the physio and goalkeeping coach Carlo Nash – nothing but love and respect.

“Thanks also to the office staff and media team and a massive thanks to the fans who supported us through thick and thin and for making me feel welcome again for my second spell.”

When approached by The Oldham Times, a spokesman said the club would not be commenting on the matter.

Latics, who play their penultimate pre-season friendly at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday (3pm), were running the rule over Chris O’Grady this week.

The well-travelled striker, who had an unsuccessful first spell at Boundary Park in 2008, scored in the 2-0 friendly victory at FC United of Manchester on Tuesday, along with Johan Branger.

He would provide manager Frankie Bunn with options in the forward department having sold Aaron Amadi-Holloway to Shrewsbury Town last week for an undisclosed fee.

O’Grady was released by Chesterfield at the end of last season. He scored three goals in 41 appearances.

“Chris O’Grady is on trial and is one of a number of players the manager is looking at,” added the Latics spokesman.

Of the trialists to be involved in the friendly programme so far, another former Chesterfield player – midfielder Giles Coke, 32 – and one-time Auxerre man Christopher Missilou, 25, have put pen-to-paper on permanent deals. They join Sam Graham, Branger and Jose Baxter as new additions for 2018/19 with more expected to follow before Athletic’s League Two season kicks off at home to MK Dons on August 4.

Coke, who was on target in Latics’ 2-0 victory at Curzon Ashton on Saturday along with Dan Gardner, came through the youth ranks at QPR before spells with Kingstonian, Mansfield and Northampton.

He signed for Sheffield Wednesday in 2010, making more than 100 appearances in a five-year spell for the Owls, scoring six goals.

During his time at Hillsborough, Coke was loaned to Bury, Swindon and Bolton.

He signed for Ipswich in 2015 before joining Chesterfield.

n Latics have been rocked by the news that midfielder Ousmane Fane has been ruled out for four months after he suffered a broken fibula and a dislocated ankle in training.

n Midfielder Ryan McLaughlin signed for Blackpool on Tuesday after rejecting a new contract offer. The Northern Ireland international scored three goals in 62 appearances.