The Oldham Athletic Board of Directors have issued an official statement regarding the recent disappointing news about the Charity Commission refusing to allow the Latics to build a new home in Failsworth. The statement was as follows:
With regard to the Failsworth land proposals we placed our faith in Oldham Council in following a course of action they advised and we have co-operated with this fully over the past year. We now feel totally let down.
Although we recognise some of the Council officers efforts to prepare the application to the Charities Commission, there have clearly been a catalogue of errors during this process, which have been pointed out so clearly by the Charities Commission in their decision notice. This, coupled with the consistent Council advice that the Failsworth site was a deliverable option, leaves our confidence in the current Council's ability to deliver any proposal for a new stadium at zero.
Having taken the past week to consider our options, we now have to take action to protect the interests of the Club, its supporters and those who have willingly underwritten things so that this opportunity could have been delivered.
We do not feel that a solution can be achieved with the current administration, although we do believe that potential alternative options could be developed with the right people. Therefore we cannot make any further comment ourselves at this stage and have placed the matter in the hands of our solicitors.
With regards to the future it is clear that there is no long term future for the club at Boundary Park and we believe we have exhausted all opportunities to avoid the club being in it's current situation We are exploring realistic possibilities for next season, including ground sharing which, at this stage, seems to be the likeliest option for us.
However without determined, positive and professional action from Oldham Council and a genuine and realistic relocation package of deliverable proposals, we fear for the future of the club remaining in the Borough.