With League One football guaranteed for next season, Oldham Athletic manager Lee Johnson wants to kick on – starting against Shrewsbury Town.
Latics secured their future with a win at the weekend, but face the Shropshire club after their first attempts were thwarted by the heavy snows.
With the pressure off, Johnson is aiming to use Latics’ maiden trip to Greenhous Meadow to build for next season.
“The mission to make sure we are playing League One football next season has been accomplished which is what I set out to achieve,” said Johnson.
“Now we start building and preparing for next season and look to push on.”
“I want breed a winning mentality, especially in our youngsters because they have to come into men’s football and to be ready.
“I want to win the games and the lads also want to keep on the roll they are on.”
Oldham will be wearing a specially commissioned white kit to avoid a clash with the Shrews’ blue and amber shirt on their first visit since 1988.
Shrewsbury, nearing the end of their first season in the third tier for 16 years, are managed by the experienced Graham Turner who has overseen 1600 games.
“Graham is a good manager who also has a good squad,” added Johnson.
“They are safe and it is fair play to them having been promoted last season.
“I know they will build again next season because it is a good club.”
Former Athletic strikers Tom Eaves and Chris Porter are unavailable after returning to their parent clubs but defenders Joe Jacobson and Rob Purdie will hope to play against their previous employer.
Purdie will be of special interest – he was injured in his first Oldham training session, failed to play in his two-year spell and remained on the bench in this season’s reverse fixture.
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