, David Dunn Sacked: Why He Had To Go

David Dunn Sacked: Why He Had To Go

As far as starts to professional football management careers go, David Dunn’s ranks lower than most.

The former Blackburn Rovers legend was sacked by Oldham Athletic chairman Simon Corney yesterday, along with assistants Dean Holden and Keith Brown.

With just three wins from his 20 games in charge in all competitions and with Latics lying five points adrift of Shrewsbury Town and all important League One safety, it comes as no surprise.

Dunn took the Boundary Park reigns following the early-season dismissal of Darren Kelly but never truly succeeded in winning over the Oldham faithful. Results never showed signs of improvement while performances rank amongst the most depressing and dour in living memory.

Dunn failed to pick up a single league win in his time at Boundary Park and added insult to injury in an interview in which he appeared to criticise the travelling Oldham fans after their victory at Chesterfield. From Kelly to Dunn, Oldham have endured their worst start to a season for some time.

Perhaps just as pleasing for Latics fans will be the news that assistant manager Dean Holden has also been given his marching orders.

How much influence an assistant manager can have on the club is up for debate, however the statistics are fairly damning. Oldham won 19 of the 56 games before Holden’s involvement with the club. In the following 56, they won just 10.

Every fan of Oldham Athletic will tell you that the problems at our proud football club run much deeper than simply the management team. Poor off-field decisions have blighted the club’s progress in recent seasons and it is no secret that the chairman would like to sell up.

Investment is limited and board competence seems non-existent at times. However that only goes some way to explaining the utterly lacklustre performances on display for almost a whole calender year. The blame must also lie with the manager and it has simply not been good enough in Dunn’s short tenure.

It’s true that Dunn’s dismissal won’t solve all of Oldham’s problems. Indeed it’s also true that it may not even save Oldham from relegation. However Latics seemed destined for League Two under the Lancastrian and at least a new manager may give them a chance of survival.

So who next? I wrote a piece after the dismissal of Darren Kelly in September in which I called for an experienced replacement. To me, and many others, it was clear that the club needed an old head to stabilise things after a poorly managed pre-season.

Unfortunately these calls weren’t heeded and now the club finds itself in the same situation as in September but with just 22 games left to resurrect the season. This time it is imperative to get the right man in. A bad appointment and Oldham could see themselves slip into League Two and end their 19-year-long stay in the third tier.

The club have announced that talks are being held with a new man already and hope to make an announcement tomorrow afternoon at the latest. A swift appointment is imperative; with over half the season wasted by poor management already, Oldham can scarcely afford to dilly dally.

It’s never nice seeing managers get the sack, especially after such a short time in charge. Regardless, Dunn had to go in my opinion and all fingers are crossed that this will provide the catalyst for an up-turn in form. There are no assurances however and make no mistakes about it; the new manager has a hell of a job on his hands.

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