JOHN Sheridan is looking for players who can lead the fight back to the Football League, both on and off the pitch.

And the Latics head coach is likely to look to tried and tested options in his summer rebuilding project, with players he has previously worked with on his radar.

Sheridan inherited a threadbare squad when he returned for a sixth spell in charge in January, and one that he said was not vocal enough, particularly on the pitch.

Oldham had been forced to turn to the Academy to boost numbers, and although they have some promising youngsters coming through the ranks in Harry Vaughan, Benny Couto, Will Sutton and Vani Da Silva, but Sheridan felt they did not have the guidance they needed on the pitch. And that is something he is looking to address in the summer.

“We need leaders out on the pitch,” he said.

“You’re not usually going to get young lads who are leaders, you need experience, winners, hungry, seeing things on the pitch that the manager sees on the sidelines. If you get a few experienced players in there they should know the game.”

Asked what type of players he was looking for, Sheridan added: “First and foremost they will be players who I think can compete, hopefully make us hard to beat and compete in this division. Usually you’ll get players coming from League One/League Two.

“Players who’ve worked with me before, possibly, they know what it’s about, they know Oldham Athletic, they know Oldham is a difficult place to go and play against. It hasn’t been this year or last year or the year before.”

Sheridan had his hands tied in the limited time remaining in the the January transfer window following his re-appointment that month.

The club’s transfer embargo meant that Sheridan was only able to make one signing before the window closed, with the arrival of Mike Fondop taking the squad to a capacity of 23.

However, a season ending injury for Ouss Cisse created another opening for a free transfer a few days later, with Tope Obadeyi added to the ranks.

But there was more business Sheridan would have liked to have done had he been given the opportunity in an effort to boost their survival chances.

Although Oldham remain on the EFL’s current embargo list, relegation to the National League means the slate is wiped clean and squad restrictions have been removed.

Of other traits that Sheridan is looking for in new signings, he added: “Characters who know the game and understand where I’m coming from, know that when I’m shouting and balling I’m not picking on them, I’m trying to get more out of them.”