JOHN Sheridan believes now is the time that he will be judged in his latest incarnation as Oldham Athletic manager, as the club stands on the brink of a new season in a new division.

Latics’ National League journey begins with their biggest trip of the season, away to Torquay United, tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

It was in January that Sheridan returned for his sixth spell in charge in the hope of saving the club from relegation, and for a period the club legend offered hope that a seven-point deficit could be clawed back.

But injuries and suspensions ultimately took their toll on a squad that was already handicapped by a transfer embargo and squad cap.

Sheridan’s hands were tied to a large extent last season. But after being given the freedom to refresh the squad with new signings, as a result of an end to the embargo and backing of the club’s new owners, the Latics boss knows that the onus is on him to make the team a force to be reckoned with as they bid to forge a way back to the Football League.

“I’ll get judged on the team I’m picking, how we’re going to play and how we’re going to win games and hopefully I can do a good job in doing that," he said.

“I know what my job description is.

“We’ve got to be ready, we know that we’re playing for something and hopefully we can get three points. It’s a tough start, it’s a long journey, we’ll have a big following there.

"This is when it starts now, we’ll start getting judged. I expect us to be a strong outfit.”