They become the first side to have played in the Premier League to have been relegated out of the Football League
Furious Oldham Athletic supporters made their feelings known as their club were relegated from League Two on Saturday – becoming the first former Premier League side to drop out of the Football League.
Play was stopped in the 79th minute
The Latics had to win their game against Salford City at Boundary Park to keep alive hopes of avoiding relegation. However, with minutes remaining, Oldham trailed 2-1.
Angry fans made their way on to the field with minutes remaining, forcing the game to be halted. A large banner reading ‘Get Out Of Our Club’ was unfurled on the pitch – a message to the owner.
Supporters have been calling for chairman Abdallah Lemsagam, who took charge of the club four years ago, to sell up since the start of the season.
Oldham Athletic fans have invaded the pitch – with the club on the verge of relegation from the EFL. Supporters are demanding the owners sell the club. The players have now left the pitch. pic.twitter.com/KN7ntlonh3
— BBC Manchester (@BBCRadioManc) April 23, 2022
The police arrived ten minutes after the pitch invasion began, with Oldham manager John Sheridan also seen on the pitch attempting to speak to supporters.
The delay to the game eventually forced the game to be abandoned and consigned Oldham to their fate as the Latics made history for the wrong reasons as they became the first club to have played in the Premier League to have dropped out of the Football League entirely.
The club confirmed that they played the remainder of the game behind closed doors, but were unable to find the right result, therefore confirming relegation.
The final 11 minutes of the @SkyBetLeagueTwo fixture with @SalfordCityFC was played to a conclusion later this afternoon behind closed doors, with the game finishing in a 2-1 defeat.
Results this afternoon now mean we will be in the National League from next season. #oafc pic.twitter.com/1l8hj1vNSz
— Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) April 23, 2022
It now means they will face the likes of Solihull Moors, Southend United and others in the Vanarama National League – a notoriously difficult league to get out of on the first occasion.
Why do Oldham fans hate their owners?
Get out of our club pic.twitter.com/Vdf3wwlL8B
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 23, 2022
Fans have long been calling for the heads of the owners, who claimed almost 100 days ago that they would sell the club, ever since they first arrived.
Under the Abdallah regime, Oldham have changed the manager over 10 times, with each appointment averaging just 22 games in charge.
Oldham have also been operating under a transfer embargo throughout the 2021/22 campaign as a result of an outstanding loan that was taken out by the EFL to help the club during the covid pandemic.
The owners also burnt bridges with supporters even further by banning three fans from Boundary Park after they publicly called out Abdallah and the rest of the Oldham board for their failed promises.
It is unclear as of yet if Oldham will face any punishment for the pitch invasion.
Related links:
- GMP to investigate reports of bullets sent to Oldham owner and brother
- Oldham Athletic bans three supporters for ‘promoting dislike’ towards club owners
- Paul Scholes says Jesse Lingard told him Man United dressing room ‘a disaster’
