The Oldham Chronicle has been probing to determine just what is going on behind the scenes at Oldham Athletic. There have been rumblings of off-field woes under the hugely secretive owner Abdallah Lemsagam. Mr Lemsagam took over from Simon Corney back in January and is often spotted around town at various functions. His name also pops up via very carefully scripted statements on the club’s website, but no-one really knows what’s going on behind those Boundary Park doors.
Former Latics’ striker Craig Davies, who now plays for Mansfield Town described Mr Lemsagam as a ‘circus owner.’ Davies said, “With all the good work at the club I wish it well in an unclear future with that circus owner in charge. I can honestly say in the 14 years I’ve been a professional footballer, I’ve never worked for someone that thinks it’s acceptable to treat his staff and players in such a bad way.”
At the time of his takeover, Mr Lemsagam was a football agent, whose Sport 2JLT company had represented players including former Portsmouth and AC Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari and striker Afonso Alves, who was at Middlesbrough. Mr Lemsagam admitted right from day one he ‘wasn’t a billionaire,’ but since then fortunes appear to have dipped on and off the field and some fans even fear for the future of the club. The team was relegated to the fourth tier of English football for the first time in decades in May, numerous high-profile members of staff have left, been sacked or suspended. That list includes manager Richie Wellens, popular players Anthony Gerrard and Jack Byrne, Chief Executive Mark Moisley, Head of Media Luke Ingram, Assistant Manager Andy Rhodes and Academy Manager Tony Philliskirk.
The club has also been dogged by late payments of wages to both staff and players and at least two visits from HMRC over unpaid tax bills. One former employee said, “The way the club is being run now is just a shambles. I’ve never known anything like it.”
The club statements from Mr Lemsagam try to paint a positive picture but clearly everything isn’t rosy in the Athletic garden. Athletic’s loyal fans are getting restless with the team currently stuttering in the bottom half of the League Two table, but still they are being informed little of what’s going on behind the scenes. Just what is going on at our beloved club? Interviews have been requested and letters sent to Mr Lemsagam on numerous occasions, but journalists have been refused time with the mysterious owner.