Latics' former Chairman, Chief Executive and Director Ian Stott has passed away at the age of 86. Stott spent 27 years at Boundary Park and became Chairman in 1982 until 1998, a period of success that had never been achieved before, or never has since. He was at the helm when Joe Royle achieved the almost impossible and made the Latics the favourites of every neutral football supporter. They also became many supporter's second favourite team. In that time, little Oldham got promoted to the First Division and subsequently the Premier League as founder members.
Stott was also a member of the FA Board and the Football League management committee and kept strong local ties to the town. He upset the supporters by suggesting the club should merge with Bury and Rochdale to form a new team called Manchester North End. This forced him to cut his ties with Boundary Park in January 1999. His family have indicated that they intend to arrange a memorial service when current movement restrictions have been relaxed.