Oldham Athletic: Tony Philliskirk distances himself from job

Oldham Athletic caretaker boss Tony Philliskirk has distanced himself from the vacant manager's role.

Philliskirk is currently head of youth at Boundary Park, and he maintains his focus is on that job.

"I feel my strength is coaching and developing. Never say never but the head of youth job is a massive job in itself," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"We've had the good news lately that the club have decided to retain that and rightly so."

He added: "With the EPPP [Elite Player Performance Plan] coming in I'm having to deal with all the paperwork.

"We're going to get audited in the next 12 months to be guaranteed our categorisation which obviously affects your funding, so that's become a massive job this year."

One of the names linked as Paul Dickov's replacement is former player and manager Iain Dowie, whom Philliskirk assisted at the Latics before Dowie moved to Crystal Palace in 2003.

And despite endorsing Dowie, Philliskirk would not be drawn on whether he would join the Northern Irishman's staff if he were to return to Boundary Park.

"I've heard his name banded about and he's an excellent coach and manager, which the team need," Philliskirk added.

"I'd have to sit down with Simon and speak about it, about who would become academy manager.

"There's a lot of water to cross under the bridge, but the club is more important than me or anyone else."