One year on: The Oldham Times and Oldham Athletic - a look at the fall and rise of a once beleaguered club now bouncing back

• SUCH is the fickle nature of football these days, it is perhaps more difficult than ever to put things into any kind of perspective.

With The Oldham Times now celebrating its first year, this seems as good a time as any to do so.

Frankie Bunn deserves every credit on the solid start to management he’s made. But the level-headed Latics boss is right to insist on not getting too carried away, even though things are going well.

Equally, it’s vital not to be too glum if things aren’t moving as smoothly as we’d like.

So with Athletic riding high, let’s hope the positive vibe around Boundary Park rumbles on.

But it’s important to remember, however, that whatever results bring this week, the next, or the one after that, there is an enormous amount of football to be played from now until the end of the season.

And while I’m the first to endorse a promotion tilt – if things carry on as they are it is obviously promotion form – we shouldn’t forget the wholesale changes made over the summer.

A new management team, fresh playing squad and of course, life in a division that has been alien to Athletic since 1971.

We have to remain focused on what is a long-term project, especially after the well-documented troubles off-the-field which, thankfully, look to have been eradicated.

To make such a purposeful start to the season has been terrific. A good start undoubtedly, but patience must always remain key.

Let us just embrace the fact that things are moving in the right direction . . . and when was the last time we could say that?

• THREE managers, a new owner, several run-ins with the taxman and relegation to English football’s fourth tier.

It has been quite the rollercoaster ride for Athletic’s long-suffering fans.

Only now are we seeing early signs of the green shoots of recovery as the club looks to build for the future – on and off the pitch.

Latics are going well in League Two as they embark on a promotion challenge at the first time of asking.

Since his appointment as manager on a one-year deal in June, club legend Frankie Bunn has instilled the kind of strong work ethic and feel-good factor conspicuous by its absence over the years.

He brought in former Athletic goalkeeper Andy Rhodes as assistant – another who played a full part in the halcyon days under Joe Royle.

The pair tasted success as players – albeit many years ago in the late 1980s and early Nineties.

Bunn doesn’t like to look back too much and is almost embarrassed whenever his six goals against Scarborough – still a record in the League Cup – comes up in conversation.

Birmingham-born “Bunny” is simply looking forwards with the mission now to bring that winning mentality to today’s squad.

It’s not going to be easy. Working on a shoestring, wholesale changes have been made to ensure long-term financial stability as well as making the dressing room a happy camp once again.

Loose cannons Anthony Gerrard and Jack Byrne were shipped out. The old guard of Craig Davies and Aaron Amadi-Holloway moved on. Fringe players like Tope Obadeyi, Abdelhakim Omrani, Darius Osei and the elusive Gyamfi Kyeremeh were also cut, along with Patrick McEleney and Ryan McLaughlin.

Eccentric goalkeeper Johny Placide did one Cruyff turn too many and shimmied out of the exit door. Bunn has stated on numerous occasions that the club is, in effect, “starting again”. In the wake of some turbulent times – it had to.

This is without doubt a long-term project which will take time.

“Gone are the days when we can bring in an Eoin Doyle,” he said recently, eluding to the task put in front of him, namely scouring reserve teams up and down the land in a bid to discover the next bright young thing – much in the same vein Royle did all those years ago.

His track record so far isn’t bad. Young strikers Sam Surridge and Callum Lang – raw talent with bags of potential – were discovered playing for academy sides at Bournemouth and Wigan, respectively. Chris O'Grady has the knowhow to nurture them along.

Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, 21, was taken hand-in-glove by Kasper Schmeichel at Leicester City and is proving he’s got what it takes since joining Latics on a season-long loan.

Centre-back Sam Graham, just 18, was plucked from Sheffield United’s under-23s set-up. The physical defender blessed with pace is another rough diamond Bunn is moulding into a gem.

Young midfielders Christopher Missilou and Johan Branger-Engone were spotted playing in the French lower leagues as Athletic cast their net further afield. The pair bring energy and desire to the side. With such youth, any team worth its salt also needs experience. Bunn’s move for 31-year-old former Blackpool left-back Andy Taylor is proving a masterstroke. Taylor brings that little bit of knowhow to the table along with veteran skipper Peter Clarke as the experienced pair coax the youngsters along.

Jose Baxter, now finding his way back to fitness, is the creative hub alongside Dan Gardner in the middle of the park. It’s only the beginning of course, but the dark clouds which hovered for so long are definitely clearing as Bunn continues to craft individuals into a team.

The early signs are that it’s gelling.

The future looks bright...