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Football

23rd Apr 2022

Oldham fans force game with Salford to be abandoned as relegation is confirmed

Simon Lloyd

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.

Oldham fans relegation

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.

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.

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?

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.

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