Sheridan is back at Oldham for sixth time and plotting another miracle

You have represented your country at two World Cups. You have scored a cup-final winning goal at Wembley against Manchester United. At the club where you made your name, your status as a legend is secure. While there have been a few downs after hanging up your boots, your managerial career has been rich and varied, with promotion won and trophy lifted.

At 57, it has been a football life well lived. Aside from becoming a grandparent, there is now a project to keep you busy in the shape of a new house, alongside a property portfolio. In the depths of winter, the warm years of retirement stretch out in front of you like endless golden sands.

So why? Why on earth would you jettison that - albeit temporarily - to become the latest of 11 changes of manager in four years (an average of 18 games each) at British football's biggest basket case?

A Premier League founder member in ruin, whose very league existence is under threat. A freefalling disaster whose last game, a 3-0 defeat at the mighty Harrogate Town, saw them drop seven points clear of safety. A crisis club whose fed-up fanbase hurled expletive insults at its own players as they trudged to the tunnel which was, helpfully, located slap bang in the middle of a seething away end.

For John Sheridan, the new Oldham Athletic manager, the logic was simple. 'The other half is as happy as Larry to get me out the house!' he jokes.

Mrs Sheridan is not the only one with a smile on her face. In protest at the self-harming regime of current owner Abdallah Lemsagam, and his deeply unpopular brother, sporting director Mohamed, long-suffering Latics fans have mostly been boycotting or invading the pitch.

Their base has never been known for its temperate climate but a strange phenomena