SAM Hart is set to leave Oldham Athletic to join a Football League club.

The defender joined Latics last summer after turning down the offer of a new deal at Southend, following relegation to the National League.

And while a one-year option had been triggered for the left back at Boundary Park, Hart has attracted interest from predominantly League Two clubs, including Northampton and Sutton United.

Although Hart has suffered back-to-back relegations from League Two, he was one of Oldham's better and most consistent performers last season, making 35 appearances. His only goal of the season helping to secure a dramatic win over his old club, Port Vale.

Hart had recently returned to the side after missing almost three months through injury.

He was a virtual ever present for the remainder of the campaign, but due to accumulated bookings crucially missed home games against Sutton and Mansfield through suspension. A losing streak stretched to six games, which damaged Latics' survival chances.

During the game in which he picked up his 10th booking of the campaign, Hart also missed a penalty which would have made it 1-1 against high-flying Exeter City, but Latics went on to lose the game 2-0, in the fourth game of that run of defeats.

The 25-year-old, who hails from Bolton emerged through Liverpool's youth ranks, and spent three years with Blackburn Rovers, but made only seven senior appearances.

Hart had loan moves to Rochdale, Southend and Shrewsbury before returning to Southend on a free transfer in November 2020.