LATICS enter a hectic and season-defining spell with boss Harry Kewell believing the EFL should not rule out extending the campaign if needed.

Oldham head to high-flying Forest Green Rovers tonight for the first of 14 games in a little over seven weeks and they are not alone in having a demanding schedule, far from it.

And the Latics head coach believes blindly sticking to the May 8 cut-off does not make sense with weather-related postponements having added to the games already called off for Covid-19 reasons.

“I’m still curious as to why we have to finish on that date,” Kewell told The Oldham Times ahead of his side’s first game in 17 days.

“We could possibly go for another couple of weeks. There’s no need to stop the league or rush the games in.

“Some teams probably may have to play Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday-Tuesday and that’s going to take a toll on a team. You want to give everyone the best opportunity and playing three or even four games in one week is going to be tough.”

As things stand, Kewell knows he will have to manage his squad carefully in the weeks to come.

The Latics boss yesterday reported strikers Zak Dearnley and George Blackwood are still not quite ready to return but otherwise things are looking good on the injury front with fellow forward Marcus Barnes available.

“It’s obviously not ideal playing all these catch-up games but it’s something that we’re going to have to deal with,”Kewell said. 

“We knew at the start of this year that this season was going to be different and difficult and put a lot of strain and stress on players.

“We have to understand that this is going to be a difficult time.

“We don’t want to lose any more games, we want to get them all in and we want to keep our players fit and healthy as well.

“You have to give them credit because they just want to play and are willing to put their bodies on the line.

“You’re going to have to make sure you use your squad in the right way and hopefully you can get some results.”