The 2013–14 season was Oldham Athletic's 17th consecutive season in the third division of the English football league system and Lee Johnson's first full season as manager of the club.
The Latics faced a summer of rebuilding on and off the pitch as 18 players were out of contract from the 2012–13 season and work finally recommenced on the demolition of the old Broadway Stand in preparation for its replacement by the new North Stand. Dean Bouzanis, Robbie Simpson, Connor Hughes, Liam Jacob, Alex Cisak, Lee Croft and Dan Taylor were all released at the end of the 2012–13 season with new contracts handed to Glenn Belezika, Cliff Byrne, Connor Brown, David Mellor, James Tarkowski and Kirk Millar as well as youngsters Joe Cooper, Chris Sutherland, Luke Simpson and Danny Gosset. Matt Smith opted to join Leeds United after his impressive run of goals during the 2012-13 FA Cup while Dean Furman joined former manager Paul Dickov at Doncaster Rovers and Jean-Yves Mvoto joined Barnsley.
In their place, Johnson signed wingers Sidney Schmeltz and James Dayton as well as strengthening the centre of midfield with Anton Rodgers and the permanent acquisition of Korey Smith who had ended the previous season on loan at Boundary Park from Norwich City. A trio of forwards were also recruited: Charlie MacDonald, Jonson Clarke-Harris and, following a protracted contract dispute with Swindon Town, Adam Rooney. Johnson signed goalkeeper Mark Oxley on a season long loan from Hull City but his only defensive acquisition before the season began was the young Latvian centre back, Edijs Joksts. As a result, the season began with young midfielder David Mellor employed at centre back alongside James Tarkowski.
The season began positively for Oldham with a 4–3 victory away at Stevenage. This was followed by defeat at home to Derby in the first round of the Capital One Cup and a run of games in which Oldham were praised for their attractive style of play but ultimately achieved only 8 points from their first 10 league games. In the meantime, the summer transfer window had closed with the departure of Baxter to Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee, the return of Danny Philliskirk and the arrival of defensive duo Matteo Lanzoni and Genseric Kusunga.
Squad & Coaching Staff
First Team Squad Includes all players who were awarded a squad number during the season. Last updated on 15 December 2013 *Total appearances and goals as at the end of the 2013–14 season SquadNo. Name Nat. Position Date of birth Signed from Signed in TotalApps* TotalGoals* Notes Goalkeepers 1 Mark Oxley GK 28-09-1990 Hull City 2013 (loan) 24 0 Season long loan from Hull City. 25 Luke Simpson GK 23-09-1994 Youth Team 2013 (turned pro) 0 0 Loaned to Nantwich Town on 17 August 2013.Contract expired at end of season. 29 Paul Rachubka GK 21-05-1981 Unattached 2013 19 0 Signed on 7 September 2013. 33 Joel Coleman GK Youth Team 2013 (turned pro) 0 0 Defenders 2 Connor Brown RB 02-10-1991 Unattached 2012 35 0 3 Jonathan Grounds LB 02-02-1988 Unattached 2012 78 1 Contract expired at end of season. 5 Genseric Kusunga CB 12-03-1988 Unattached 2013 14 1 Signed on 2 September 2013. 6 James Tarkowski CB 19-11-1992 Youth Team 2011 (turned pro) 78 6 6 Adel Gafaiti CB 16-07-1994 Norwich City 2014 Loaned from Norwich City on 14 March 2014. 16 Cliff Byrne CB 26-04-1982 Unattached 2012 43 1 Loaned to Scunthorpe on 12 September 2013. 16 James Wilson CB 26-02-1989 Bristol City 2014 Signed from Bristol City on 31 January 2014. 18 Matteo Lanzoni CB 18-07-1988 Unattached 2013 12 1 Signed on 29 August 2013. 18 Adam Lockwood CB 26-10-1981 Unattached 2014 Signed on 3 January 2014. 22 Glenn Belezika CB 24-12-1994 Youth Team 2012 (turned pro) 5 0 Loaned to Salisbury City on 23 August 2013. 23 Joseph Mills LB 30-10-1989 Burnley 2014 1 0 Loaned from Burnley on 16 August 2013. 24 Edijs Joksts CB 21-07-1992 FK Tukums 2000 2013 0 0 26 Ellis Plummer FB 02-09-1994 Manchester City 2013 3 0 Loaned from Manchester City on 28 November 2013. 30 Joe Cooper FB 25-09-1994 Youth Team 2013 (turned pro) 1 0 Loaned to Celtic Nation on 27 August 2013.Resigned on 16 September 2013. 32 Jack Truelove FB Youth Team 2013 (turned pro) 1 0 34 Tomos Clarke CB 01-08-1996 Youth Team Youth Team Midfielders 4 James Wesolowski CM 25-08-1987 Peterborough United 2011 92 5 Contract expired at end of season. 7 Sidney Schmeltz RW 08-06-1989 Unattached 2013 22 1 7 Terry Dunfield CM 20-02-1982 Unattached 2014 Signed on 20 February 2014.Contract expired at end of season. 8 Korey Smith CM 31-01-1991 Norwich City 2013 37 1 11 Cristian Montaño LW 11-12-1991 West Ham United 2012 48 4 Sacked on 16 December 2013 due to spot-fixing allegations 12 David Mellor CM 10-07-1993 Youth Team 2011 (turned pro) 46 1 15 Carl Winchester CM 12-04-1993 Youth Team 2011 (turned pro) 36 2 17 Anton Rodgers CM 26-01-1993 Unattached 2013 11 0 Signed on 12 July 2013.Contract expired at end of season. 19 James Dayton LW 12-12-1988 Kilmarnock 2013 23 3 20 Mike Petrasso RW 09-07-1995 QPR 2013 6 1 Loaned from QPR on 22 November 2013. 20 John Paul Kissock MF 29-09-1989 Macclesfield Town 2014 Loaned from Macclesfield Town on 30 January 2014. 23 Wade Joyce MF 01-05-1994 Barnsley 2013 0 0 Loaned from Barnsley on 28 November 2013. 24 Joel Byrom MF 14-09-1986 Preston North End 2014 Loaned from Preston North End on 14 March 2014. 26 Albert Rusnak MF 07-07-1994 Manchester City 2013 3 0 Loaned from Manchester City on 30 August 2013. Returned to Manchester City on 17 September 2013. 28 Chris Sutherland RW 04-08-1995 Youth Team 2012 (turned pro) 11 0 Loaned to Barrow on 26 August 2013. 28 David Worrall LW 12-06-1990 Rotherham United 2014 Loaned from Rotherham United on 3 January 2014. 30 Gary Harkins MF 02-01-1985 St Mirren 2014 Loaned from St Mirren on 3 January 2014. 31 Danny Gosset CM 21-02-1995 Youth Team 2013 (turned pro) 2 0 Loaned to Stockport County on 29 August 2013. Forwards 09 Adam Rooney FW 21-04-1988 Birmingham City 2013 25 6 Signed on 1 August 2013. Joined Aberdeen on 23 January. 09 Jon Stead FW 07-04-1983 Huddersfield Town 2014 Loaned from Huddersfield Town on 31 January 2014. 10 Charlie MacDonald FW 13-02-1981 Unattached 2013 10 4 Signed on 5 July 2013.Contract expired at end of season. 14 Jonson Clarke-Harris FW 20-07-1994 Peterborough United 2013 23 3 20 Jose Baxter FW 07-02-1992 Unattached 2012 50 17 Sold to Sheffield United on 29 August 2013. 21 Kirk Millar FW 07-07-1992 Youth Team 2010 (turned pro) 38 1 Contract expired at end of season. 23 Rhys Turner FW 22-07-1995 Stockport County 2014 Signed on 31 January 2014. 27 Danny Philliskirk FW 10-04-1991 Unattached 2013 21 9 Signed on 16 August 2013. 35 Jordan Bove FW 12-11-1995 Youth Team Youth Team 1 0 36 John Pritchard FW 29-09-1995 Youth Team Youth Team 1 0
Management & Coaching Staff PositionNameNotesManager Lee JohnsonAssistant manager Tommy Wright Signed on 20 February 2014.First Team coach Paul MurrayGoalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms Signed on a short-term contract on 1 July 2013. Left on 17 Feb 2014Fitness coach Lee Steele Signed on a short-term contract on 1 July 2013.Head of Sports Medicine Jon GuyHead of Youth Development Tony Philliskirk
League table
Transfers
Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.12 May 2013FW Jonson Clarke-Harris Peterborough UnitedUndisclosed20 May 2013MF James Dayton KilmarnockFree12 June 2013MF Sidney SchmeltzUnattachedFree20 June 2013MF Korey Smith NorwichFree5 July 2013FW Charlie MacDonaldUnattachedFree12 July 2013MF Anton RodgersUnattachedFree17 July 2013DF Edijs Joksts FK Tukums 2000Free1 August 2013FW Adam Rooney Birmingham CityFree16 August 2013FW Danny PhilliskirkUnattachedFree29 August 2013DF Matteo LanzoniUnattachedFree2 September 2013DF Genseric KusungaUnattachedFree7 September 2013GK Paul RachubkaUnattachedFree3 January 2014DF Adam LockwoodUnattachedFree31 January 2014DF James WilsonBristol CityFree31 January 2014FW Rhys TurnerStockport CountyUndisclosed20 February 2014MF Terry DunfieldUnattachedFreePlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.4 July 2013GK Mark Oxley Hull CityEnd of season16 August 2013DF Joseph Mills BurnleyThree months(Initially for one month)30 August 2013MF Albert Rusnak Manchester City5 January 2014(Returned on 17 September 2013)22 November 2013MF Mike Petrasso QPROne month28 November 2013DF Ellis Plummer Manchester CityOne month28 November 2013MF Wade Joyce BarnsleyOne month3 January 2014MF David Worrall Rotherham UnitedEnd of season3 January 2014MF Gary Harkins St MirrenEnd of season30 January 2014MF John Paul Kissock Macclesfield TownEnd of season31 January 2014FW Jon Stead Huddersfield TownOne month14 March 2014DF Adel Gafaiti Norwich CityUntil 21 April 201414 March 2014MF Joel Byrom Preston North EndEnd of seasonPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef29 August 2013FW Jose Baxter Sheffield UnitedUndisclosed31 December 2013DF Matteo LanzoniUnattachedContract expired2 January 2014MF Chris SutherlandUnattachedReleased23 January 2014FW Adam RooneyUnattachedReleased30 January 2014DF Edijs JokstsUnattachedReleased31 January 2014DF James TarkowskiBrentfordUndisclosed14 February 2014MF Sidney SchmeltzUnattachedReleasedPlayers loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.17 August 2013GK Luke Simpson Nantwich TownOne month23 August 2013DF Glenn Belezika Salisbury CityOne month26 August 2013MF Chris Sutherland BarrowOne month27 August 2013DF Joe Cooper Celtic NationOne month29 August 2013MF Danny Gosset Stockport CountyTwo months(Initially for one month)12 September 2013DF Cliff Byrne Scunthorpe UnitedUntil 13 December 201318 October 2013DF Glenn Belezika Hyde UnitedOne month31 January 2014GK Luke Simpson Leicester CityEnd of season
Squad statistics
Appearances Last updated on 24 November 2013
Number Position Name TotApps TotStart TotSub LgApps LgStart LgSub FACApps FACStart FACSub Lg CupApps Lg CupStart Lg CupSub JPTApps JPTStart JPTSub01 GK Mark Oxley 24 24 0 19 19 0 3 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 002DF Connor Brown 6 5 1 4 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 103 DF Jonathan Grounds 26 26 0 19 19 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 4 4 004 MF James Wesolowski 22 19 3 17 15 2 2 2 0 1 0 1 2 2 005 DF Genseric Kusunga 14 14 0 9 9 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 006 DF James Tarkowski 25 25 0 17 17 0 3 3 0 1 1 0 4 4 007 MF Sidney Schmeltz 22 8 14 16 5 11 2 1 1 1 0 1 3 2 108 MF Korey Smith 27 27 0 19 19 0 3 3 0 1 1 0 4 4 009 FW Adam Rooney 25 17 8 18 12 6 3 2 1 1 1 0 3 2 110 FW Charlie MacDonald 10 7 3 10 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 011 MF Cristian Montaño 15 9 6 10 6 4 2 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 112 MF David Mellor 15 11 4 9 7 2 3 2 1 1 1 0 3 1 214 FW Jonson Clarke-Harris 23 12 11 16 7 9 3 2 1 1 1 0 3 2 115 MF Carl Winchester 5 3 2 5 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 016 DF Cliff Byrne 3 0 3 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 017 MF Anton Rodgers 11 6 5 6 2 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 2 118 DF Matteo Lanzoni 12 11 1 8 8 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 2 019 MF James Dayton 23 23 0 17 17 0 3 3 0 1 1 0 2 2 020 FW Jose Baxter 5 4 1 4 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 020 FW Mike Petrasso 6 4 2 4 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 021 FW Kirk Millar 8 2 6 5 2 3 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 122 DF Glenn Belezika 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 123 DF Joseph Mills 14 14 0 11 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 024 DF Edijs Joksts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 025 GK Luke Simpson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 026 MF Albert Rusnak 3 1 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 026 DF Ellis Plummer 3 3 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 027 FW Danny Philliskirk 21 19 2 14 12 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 4 4 028 MF Chris Sutherland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 029 GK Paul Rachubka 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 030 DF Joe Cooper 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 031 MF Danny Gosset 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 032 DF Jack Truelove 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 033 GK Joel Coleman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 035 FW Jordan Bove 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Goal Scorers Last updated on 15 December 2013