JOHN Sheridan says it would be his biggest achievement in football if he can keep Oldham Athletic in the Football League.

But the returning club legend insists he would not be back at Boundary Park if he did not think it was possible.

Latics go into tomorrow's derby with Rochdale bottom of League Two, seven points adrift of safety. And while Sheridan admits it will be a big ask, he does not think the gap is insurmountable.

Sheridan has pulled off two previous great escapes with Latics in League One. With a Football League status of over 126 years hanging in the balance he admits this is the greatest of all the challenges he has faced with this - or any other - football club.

"With the position we're in, bottom of the league and seven points adrift, yes it is," he said.

But when asked if he could save this club from relegation he replied: "I'd be stupid to say 'no' because I wouldn't have come, would I?

"I wouldn't have come with the label of taking the club down.

"I've come with the belief that I can save them, yes.

"I'm here for that reason. When I was offered the job I jumped straight at it.

"I've been out of the game a little bit and just looking at Oldham - I always look at the teams who I've played for - I've got a lot of fond memories here and had a lot of special moments here, so to see them in the position they are at the moment is hard to take.

"So I was ready to come in and try to help them as much as I can to keep them in the Football League.

"I've been in similar positions but I think this is a bit more difficult and it's going to take a lot of work to get where we need to be but I'm confident we can do it."

And Sheridan admits it would top anything else in his managerial career if he is successful.

"It would be probably one of the biggest, if not THE biggest achievements," said the 57-year-old, who believes the fans who have delighted in his return have a huge role to play.

"I think one of the biggest things will be the supporters getting right behind us.

"It's about getting that confidence into the players because there are some good players in the team. They just need a bit of belief and a bit of assurance that the fans are going to get right behind them because with what's been going on and things in and around the club it's been very difficult for the team.

"I've always had a good relationship with the fans and I've always felt I've done well here, even when I was playing at the end of my career.

"They've always been very good to me. It was a big stepping stone going into my management career."

But Sheridan is determined to steer the focus away from himself.

"It's good that as a manager I know the fans are going to get right behind me but it's about the players really," he continued.

"It's not about me coming in and having a relationship with the supporters here - it helps with the situation that we're in at the moment - but it's about me trying to get the best out of the players to go out onto the pitch to win football matches to keep us in the Football League.

"That's what we need to do and it's important that I get a response from the players more than anything else and hopefully we can take it out onto the pitch."