DAVID Unsworth has described it as an ‘honour and privilege’ to be manager of Oldham Athletic and tread the path of his great friend, Joe Royle.

As in the case of the club’s legendary former boss - now director - some 40 years ago, it is Unsworth’s first full-time, senior managerial role.

But he brings with him a wealth of experience as a top flight player turned title winning coach, with spells in caretaker charge added to his impressive CV, including two at his old club, Everton.

And he intends to put all of his knowledge to good use to bring the good times back to Boundary Park.

“I want to be a winning manager first and foremost,” Unsworth smiled, as he sat down for his first interview with The Oldham Times.

“I want to be a manager that improves his players, I want to help them get to where they want to be, be that here or anywhere else, because if they’re successful we’re successful. I want to help them and I think I can help them, I’ve got great experience. Football hasn’t changed and will always be the same. I’ve worked under some wonderful, wonderful managers and if I can take a little piece from all of those and then put my own mix in it... I plan to have a successful team. I want us to win.

"It’s really important that the players enjoy winning and get used to winning, because it’s a great habit to be in, it’s a great habit to have.

“Last minute winners, that’s a couple of times now they’ve scored last minute winners. There’s talent and quality in the squad and I just want to be a manager who helps his players improve and creates a winning environment.”

Unsworth has longed for an opportunity to manage a footall team in his own right, but rather than jump at the first offer he waited.

"It's an opportunity I've been desperate for, really, but the right one," he said.

"I've turned down a few jobs, I won't say who, but I've turned a few jobs down over the period waiting for the right one to come along and this is the first time it's felt like the right one."

Asked what felt right about Oldham, he replied: "I must pay homage to John Sheridan. I think he set the ball rolling by coming back last year, getting the fans to come back, so that feel of the fans coming back into a club that looked broken from the outside, John doing that, and then the new owners coming in and basically buying the whole club as a family venture, and Darren and Joe Royle being involved as well, that's why it feels right.

"I'm looking out now and I see the great man's stand over there," he added, his gaze focused on The Joe Royle Stand opposite the dugout.

"One of my best friends, I'm proud to call him a friend, so to follow in his footsteps, to work with his son who is a great man it's a very, very special day for me. They are great people and I've known them for a long time.

"I've met the chairman and his lovely family and just the feeling I got and the welcoming I got off them as well, it just feels right.

"I always got told that you work for good people and you pick your jobs on the chairman and the CEO. I've certainly picked what I consider to be top, top people to work with.

"All the pieces have been put in place and now the vital piece, the most important piece, is on the pitch.

"It's a big privilege, I'm very honoured."