ANDY Ritchie says it is imperative that new owners are found for Oldham Athletic, and fast.

The club legend, who served Latics as player and manager, says enough is enough and owner Abdallah Lemsagam must not stall on a takeover any longer.

Lemsagam announced in January that he would be willing to listen to offers and was open to selling. Progress has been slow, to say the least, and in the meantime Latics have suffered relegation from the Football League for the first time in the club's history.

Ritchie believes a sale must happen soon to give Oldham a fighting chance of bouncing back at the first attempt.

Reflecting on the day relegation was confirmed by home defeat to Salford City, the 61-year-old said: "It was very, very frustrating Disappointing. Ultimately it was a terrible day for the club, and I think it will take a while to get over that.

"But hopefully we can get people involved in the football club that want to take it forward.

"I think it's the only way. I've been scratching my head and thinking, can it still go on the way it is?

"No doubt that Abdallah did save the club and brought his money in at the beginning, but it's just not worked. And if he keeps saying that he wants to sell then get it done and let someone else come in and try to take the club forward. Because it's not going to be easy to get out of the National League as we've seen with so many teams.

"You look at Stockport who have just got back in, it's taken them 10 years. You look at the names and the size of the football clubs that are in there. You only have to look at all those - Wrexham, who didn't make it - so many big names down there, it's going to be difficult.

"And it needs money pumping in. It's not the be all and end all but some of those teams have invested a lot of money and still not got back up."

But Ritchie is adamant that the potential is there to revive and restore the club.

"I do. You only have to look at the fanbase and the people who turned out for the fundraising event on Sunday, probably getting close to 1,500 people," said the former striker, who believes it is important for Latics fans to play a key role in the future of the club.

"They're passionate about it and they've got to have these people involved now.

"If new people come in and do takeover the club they've got to involve the supporters and the supporters' trust."