Abdallah Lemsagam wants Oldham Athletic to be in the Championship within five years. 

The Latics owner set out his vision for the future at Boundary Park in a 1,500 word statement on the club’s website. 

In it Lemsagam, on the hunt for a new head coach after Pete Wild’s departure, addressed a wide range of issues that club face after finishing 14th in League Two in a season that saw Paul Scholes have a 31-day stint as manager.

The Oldham Times:

“It is clear that the club’s supporters expect Oldham to be competing at a higher level than League Two, and that League One status should be achieved relatively quickly,” the owner said.  

“I share the ambition to achieve promotion – not just to League One, but over time to the Championship. 

“I will make a commitment to try to achieve League One status within three years, and hopefully sooner. 

“At this point in time, Championship football is best considered as realistic within a five-year plan rather than in the short term. It is however, the long term ambition.”

On the financial front, Lemsagam insisted he was working hard to move towards sustainability while also improving the playing squad. 

Scholes’ resignation came amid a backdrop of claims of player interference, which the owner denied, and problems including having no hot water or transport to games. 

“The achievement of these objectives – and any further long term progression - has to be set in the context of the club’s financial situation, which is extremely challenging for both the playing and non-playing sides of the organisation,” he said.  

“I have been able to manage this by providing the club with subsidy during the first year of my ownership and I shall continue to do this while managing a transformation programme to establish financial stability and improve the quality of the team.”