LOIS Maynard hopes his versatility as well as his experience can be influential in helping to get Oldham Athletic back where he feels they belong.

The defence-minded player has arrived at Boundary Park ready to fulfil any role that manager John Sheridan requests of him in Latics' quest to bounce back to the Football League at the first attempt.

Maynard has won promotion from the National League via the play-offs with Salford City in 2019. He has also gone close with Tranmere Rovers, Halifax and last season Solihull Moors.

And he believes that marrying the two elements together is what made him a target for Sheridan's rebuilding project.

"It's perfect for me in terms of what he's asking, to bring my experience on and off the field, to try to be a key part of the team and cover a lot of defensive positions which I'm comfortable with doing," said Maynard.

"He sees me playing in a few different defensive positions, which I'm comfortable with because last season I played some games in centre midfield, some holding midfield, but the majority was in defence, be that a three or a two. I'm comfortable in all positions in a defensive role."

And Maynard, who signed a one-year deal on Monday, hopes his National League know-how will offer another useful string to Latics' bow as they look to bounce back.

"My first impressions are it's a club that shouldn't be in the National League, everyone here is aware of that and wants to do everything in their power to put it back where it belongs," said the 33-year-old.

"Training has been good, the staff are brilliant, players are brilliant, we're all just ready to crack on."

He added: "It's a league which asks you a lot of different questions per game, you've got many different teams - teams that play good football, teams that go the other way in terms of route one, there's no right or wrong but you have to be prepared to answer all those different questions.

"I think that's what this league's about so experience can obviously be a big benefit to those sort of questions.

"Consistency is an obvious one. Keeping the mindset in terms of going away to tough grounds. There are tough grounds, grounds that have 4G pitches, there's a lot of different questions and you have to keep consistency and that same mindset, have the same vision and keep pushing through."