Paul Scholes In Shock Oldham Link

Manchester United maestro Paul Scholes has emerged as a shock contender for the Oldham Athletic job. The former England international appears behind Iain Dowie with odds of 7/1 with Stan James in the Next Oldham Manager Market. It would be simply be a staggering coup for the League One strugglers but one that is unlikely to happen due to Scholes' current commitments.

Scholes, an Oldham fan, is in the last few months of his one-year contact at Old Trafford and is expected to retire for good at the end of the campaign. At the moment he will no doubt be fully focused on the run-in, with United on track to win yet another Premier League title. Latics chairman Simon Corney stated that there has been no contact between the two parties but hasn't ruled out a future move.

Paul Dickov resigned from his post as Latics manager on Sunday following shocking run eight defeats in nine league matches. Corney has revealed that he has since received a multitude of applications for the job and is eager to appoint a new manager before the club's huge FA Cup clash at home to Premier League side Everton on Saturday 16th February.

Former Oldham boss Ian Dowie currently leads the way at evens with most bookmakers. The 48-year-old led the Latics to the League One play-offs in 2003, before departing at the end of the year. Former favourite Phil Brown has since drifted but is still believed to be in the mix. Paul Jewell has also been touted as a contender but as things currently stand he has long odds of 33/1.