Latics Director of Marketing, Sean Jarvis, has sensationally called on Manchester United fans, suspicious of the much publicised Malcolm Glazer takeover, to ditch their red shirts in favour of the famous blue and white of Oldham Athletic and head for
Jarvis told the official site, “On a daily basis we hear of more and more disgruntled United fans in light of the Glazer takeover. Consequently our message is clear, take the Latics challenge and join the Blue army. We are sure they won’t be disappointed.”
He continued to lure listening reds by asserting that, “Latics represents a great alternative for United supporters to go back to their roots here at
This audacious attempt to entice disillusioned reds is likely to split fans, especially when considering the animosity many Latics die-hards feel towards the Red Devils after years of enduring ridicule at the hands of the very people Jarvis is appealing to. And of course considering, lest we forget, that goal.
However, there can be little denying that an influx of outside support will boost the club’s revenue and profile and possibly swell the numbers of the next generation of true supporters. For others though Boundary Park is a refuge from, seemingly a whole world that fawns over Manchester United and the prospect of swathes of confused reds heading for the famous old ground carrying with them patronising preconceptions of what Oldham Athletic is all about, is most unwelcome.
It is a difficult question but Latics fans must ask themselves; as the team prepares for its most exciting journey in years, which begins with escape from League One, are the club really in a position to turn away potential supporters? This Editor thinks not.