Scholes, 44, was officially confirmed on Monday, 11 February, as the new manager of Oldham Athletic — the club he has supported since boyhood — on a contract which lasts until the summer of 2020.
Scholes — whose biggest flaw as a player was his tackling — has worked as a television pundit for BT Sport in recent years and did a limited amount of coaching with United when his former team-mate Ryan Giggs took charge briefly in 2014.
— Former Footballers (@FinishedPlayers) 30 September 2018
He is the third former England midfielder this season to be given his first managerial job — Steven Gerrard was appointed by Glasgow Rangers last summer, as was Frank Lampard at Derby County.
Along with David Beckham, Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand, they were known as England's Golden Generation.
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) 11 February 2019
"There have been past options but now the time is right. I know it has been 20 or 30 years since there has been excitement at the club and it has always been a club fighting relegation. I am like every other manager who has been here and I want to try and change things," said Scholes.
But while Rangers are one of the two biggest clubs in Scotland and Derby are pushing for a place in the English Premier League, Scholes' Oldham are mid-table in the fourth tier of English football.
— Chris Slater (@chrisslaterMEN) 11 February 2019
Many on social media felt the decision to give Scholes the job was a bit hard on caretaker manager Pete Wild — himself an Oldham fan — who led the team to victory over Premier League Fulham in the FA Cup and ended his spell in charge on Saturday, 9 February, with a 3-0 victory at Crawley.
"This is a squad that should be pushing for promotion. That might be out of reach for this season but certainly not for next season," said Scholes, who thanked Wild for the job he has done.
— ian marshall (@bigmarshy20) 9 February 2019
Wild, who took over when Frankie Bunn was sacked in December, is understood to be returning to his role as an academy coach.
— Tracey Robinson (@robinsons16) 11 February 2019
But Lemsagam has struggled to pay the players' wages this season and he does not even have the financial clout to match Salford City, the fifth tier club who is jointly owned by a number of former United players, including Scholes, who has a 10 percent share.
He was cleared to take up the position last week when the English Football League decided his financial interest in Salford did not represent a conflict of interest.
