Oldham Athletic have appointed Gary Brabin as new boss Micky Mellon's assistant manager. The 52-year-old former Cambridge United, Luton Town and Tranmere boss joins Latics as part of the new-look coaching staff, which includes club legend Paul Murray, who will combine his duties as Academy manager with a new role as first team coach.

Both will be alongside Mellon in the dugout tomorrow for his first game in charge - a derby date with Rochdale.

Speaking of the appointments, Mellon said: “I’m delighted to have Gary here, he is a vastly experienced coach and someone I am really looking forward to working with.

“I know myself well and I know what I need around me in order to be the best version of myself and provide the players with that they need.

“Gary is a really positive signing for us and is a guy I’d go into battle with at any time.

"Having him as part of our coaching team will make sure the players have all the support they need.

“I’m also pleased that Paul Murray will step up to the first team group as well as continuing to oversee the Academy.

"I love the qualities that he has.

"You need a team around you to make sure the players are supported, and I quite like that Paul's been here and understands all of what the club is. He's been here for a long time and played for the club and all the rest of it. But that wasn't the only reason, he's obviously a quality football man and somebody that I'll be delighted to stand with to support the players to try to go and get results."

Of Murray's Academy role, Mellon added: "He's going to carry on with that and do both, and Paul's keen to do that because he's done a lot of good work in there.

"And the club's keen for him to still be involved in that. It was me that asked for him and I probably put a spanner in the works, but I wanted him.

"He's really experienced at knowing that type of (Academy) job and he's knows the type of job that he's going to need to do with me, and he'll be able to do both."

Brabin, meanwhile, played alongside Mellon at Blackpool in the 90s.

He has been Sporting Director with the Welsh Premier League champions, The New Saints FC, since 2021, and will continue to work for the Welsh club.