Royle appointment at Oldham

Joe Royle has been appointed Oldham manager until the end of the season.

The 59-year-old is already arguably the most successful manager in the League One club's history having first taken over back in 1982 before guiding the Latics to a League Cup final, two FA Cup semi-finals and the top flight during 12 successful years at the helm.

He also managed Everton, Manchester City and Ipswich but has been out of the game for three years. Royle's appointment comes just hours after the Latics parted company with John Sheridan following a week of controversy at Boundary Park.

The Lancashire outfit were hammered 6-2 by promotion hopefuls MK Dons on Saturday, bringing a disappointing end to a week which included a number of alleged incidents following a team night out at Belle Vue dog track.

Despite lying eighth in Coca-Cola League One, just a point behind sixth-placed Tranmere, Oldham are without a win in three games and will now be looking to pick up enough points to make the play-offs from their remaining nine games of the season.

Royle takes over with immediate effect and will take charge of his first Oldham game since 1994 when Tranmere visit Boundary Park next Saturday.