Dean Windass has revealed why his short loan spell at Oldham Athletic ended after just 11 games. The Hull City legend joined the Latics in the second half of the 2008/09 season but returned to his parent club ahead of schedule.
Windass was 39 at the time and already contemplating retirement. He chose Oldham over a move to Doncaster Rovers, largely due to his friendship with then-goalkeeper and coach Mark Crossley and the club's convenient location near his Leeds home. Under manager John Sheridan, Oldham were positioned around sixth or seventh in League One.
The veteran forward made 11 league appearances, scoring once in a 2-1 victory over Northampton Town. However, he felt the tactical setup did not suit his style of play. "I was coming towards the end of my career and was planning to retire at the end of the season," Windass said. The combination of this and the club's broader challenges led to an early conclusion of the loan.
He pointed to financial difficulties as a root cause of the club's problems in the years since his departure. "I always look out for the results of every club I played for, and I know Oldham have had difficult periods - much of that comes down to finances," he added. Windass also praised the club's proud history, including its top-flight era under Joe Royle, and noted improvements made to the stadium's stand.
The club's current campaign in League Two sees them 14th with seven points from six matches, having lost their last two games. Windass's stint remains a brief footnote in a long career that concluded with his retirement at the end of that 2008/09 season.
This story first appeared at Oldham Times
