Andy Ritchie has urged Oldham Athletic not to rush over their next managerial appointment.

Latics are understood to have been flooded with applications for the Boundary Park hotseat after a poor start to the season brought an end to David Unsworth's almost one-year reign.

Despite winning once in their opening nine games, which has left Latics playing serious catch-up if they are to revive pre-season promotion hopes, Ritchie has encouraged club chiefs to take their time over the process and pick the candidate best equipped to mount a challenge this season, and bring the long-term stability that they have lacked.

"There's no immediate rush, they just have to get the right man because they need somebody to stabilise and get a few good results," said the Latics legend.

"They need to get everybody fit and hopefully somebody can come in and maybe stabilise because they haven’t had that for for umpteen years.

"Darren and Joe Royle will be disappointed that the person they wanted hasn't been able to produce what the football club needed.

"But I still, think the club is in a much better place than it has been for a long, long time, with that stability behind him.

"I think they might go for somebody experience if they can but it’s whoever comes in that makes an impression to the board and gives the best of themself.

"The baggage has gone now. with the new owners coming in. It’s a brighter prospect for people as well."

But while he feels Latics can afford to carefully deliberate over Unsworth's successor, particularly after Steve Thompson got off to a winning start in his spell as caretaker, Ritchie warned the new manager will not have the luxury of time.

"He’s got to hit the ground running," said the former Latics striker and manager.

"There’s no time to bed in, we need some results.

"It might be that somebody just comes in and shuts up shop a little bit to get us to pick points up, and then when everybody’s fit you can look at it in a different light.

"And that might be what he has to say. Whoever they interview, that might have to be a pitch to the board to stabilise the place and then explain how they see us playing going forward."