IT'S MIND OVER MATTER AS MELLON FULFILS THE DREAM

MELLON FULFILS

- Andy Mitchell

MICKY Mellon plus an ambitious EFL chas-ler looks like a pretty straightforward equation but the reality has been anything but.

Appointed by Oldham Athletic in October 2023 in the wake of David Unsworth’s sacking, Mellon swiftly dragged his new side towards play-off contention but there was always a feeling that something was missing.

Even the biggest pessimist would not have predicted the scale of the drop-off from the end of February but it told the five-time promotion winner just how far away number six really was.

A dozen contracts came to a natural end last summer but even with a core that Mellon clearly fancied, the churn continued throughout what would end up a triumphant campaign.

The Latics kicked off all three play-off matches with the same XI, including a midfield trio Corry Evans and loan pair Tom Pett and Vimal Yoganathan that all joined in January.

Match winner Kian Harratt was only recruited from Fleetwood Town in March while defensive duo Manny Monthe and Reagan Ogle were completing a first full year at Boundary Park.