OLDHAM Athletic fans have set out an ambitious plan to buy Boundary Park in an effort to protect its future as a football ground, and oust the Lemsagam brothers.

And they have set a £6million fundraising target in a bid to facilitate achieving their goal.

Oldham Athletic Supporters’ Foundation and fans’ group Push The Boundary staged a fans’ forum in the Oldham Event Centre (OEC) in Boundary Park’s North Stand, in which directors outlined plans to raise enough cash through the 1895 Fund to make landlord Simon Blitz an offer.

Members of both organisations met with Blitz earlier this week to discuss their intentions, and during the forum explained that the former Latics chairman, who still owns Boundary Park and surrounding land, was willing to sell.

“We met Simon Blitz on Monday alongside OASF. We don’t know the figure he’s willing to sell for but what we do know he is willing to negotiate and he is happy to sell,” explained PTB founder Steve Shipman.

“So that’s what we’re working on at the moment. We felt it was a positive discussion to take place but we need to follow up on that.

“He’s agreed to meet us and is willing to sell.

“This is why what we’re doing with the fund is so important.”

Matt Dean, a director of OASF, said: “If the fans buy Boundary Park there will always be football here.

“It’s a big, big target.

“It might not happen, but we focus on what we can control. We need a goal and to work towards it. That is ultimately our end game.

“If another person or group comes in and buys the whole thing fantastic, but ultimately this is our goal.

“We’ve met Simon Blitz, he said he will sell it at the right price. We need to raise the funds.”

Fans expressed concerns about whether current owner Abdallah Lemsagam might be encouraged to make Blitz an offer for the stadium and land, but Brad Knowles said: “He did say he wouldn’t sell to Abdallah, he also said Abdallah owes him rent.

“We are looking at this stand and the three surrounding and the car park. Not Little Wembley, not behind the Rochdale Road End.

“Abdallah owns nothing but the badge.”

Asked whether they were looking to get a valuation for the stadium and land, fans were told: “Once we have more money and we’re ready to buy that’s when we’ll look at it.”

But with just over £33,000 currently in the 1895 Fund OASF and PTB warned there is a long way to go. They are nevertheless determined to keep pushing towards their target, but stressed it would take a wider effort with more supporters getting involved either through frequent donations to the Fund or assisting with fundraising activities and growing membership of OASF.