Micky Mellon says he is not planning a team around his son for next season.
Michael Mellon was a transfer deadline day signing on September 1 last year, on a season long loan from Burnley.
But with the striker entering the final year of his contract and managerless Burnley more open to a permanent move as opposed to another loan at this stage of his career, Latics have been priced out.
Oldham manager Mellon has made no secret of how much he enjoyed working with Michael last season, and how he would hope to do so again in the future.
But due to finances it seems unlikely that will happen in 2026/27, and he has urged Oldham supporters not to pin their hopes on a return for Mellon Jnr this summer.
Burnley have been without a head coach since Scott Parker's departure from Turf Moor in late April.
Craig Bellamy was tipped to be announced as his successor last week after the Clarets agreed compensation with the Welsh FA for the Wales boss, but the deal fell through at the 11 th hour.
However, speaking to The Oldham Times, Oldham boss Mellon said the managerial situation at his old club has nothing to do with his son's future.
"It's generally just finances. It's just the way football is," said the Scot, who played for Burnley between 1999 and 2001.
"Michael will have many suitors now.
"I don't want to build anybody's hopes up. He's not in our plans to be here next season, because we probably couldn't get it done at this time."
Reflecting on last season, when Michael Mellon's loan move was not finalised until the last day of the summer transfer window, Mellon added: "It was but it was going on for a long, long time. We were just waiting and waiting.
"It was Michael's desire to want to come here, and he gave up wages to come here, which shows you how keen he was to try to come here.
"But I think he'll have many suitors now."
Mellon Jnr ended the season as Latics' 10-goal top scorer, despite having the second half of the season written off by a severe hamstring tear.
The 22-year-old, who has had previous loan experience at Morecambe, Dundee and Bradford City, has been described by Burnley's caretaker boss Mike Jackson as a natural goalscorer.
"Michael's a very, very good player, he's just had some weird, mad injuries over the last few years. But as a finisher, as a goalscorer, there aren't many better," said Jackson, who worked with Latics boss Mellon at Shrewsbury and Tranmere Rovers.
"He is a very, very good finisher so I'm sure he will have a good career, because he is very, very talented."
"I guarantee wherever he is he will score. He's an extremely talented lad."
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