Latics guest player column - Craig Davies

I’ve played under him twice in my career – at Oldham and also Chesterfield – and he’s just top man to be fair. I’ve nothing but good things to say about him.

I really hope he does well back at Oldham – obviously after this weekend – and I think he will.

What you see is what you get with John, and that’s one of the reasons I liked him so much.

He was always straight to the point with me.

If I’d played well, he’d tell me.

If I’d played badly, he’d tell me.

He won’t try and hide his feelings, you know exactly what he’s thinking and I’ve got a lot of time for him and his methods.

He did a good job at Plymouth and Chesterfield, and also in his first spell at Oldham.

They’ll be hoping he can replicate that, because since he left they’ve not had a manager who got near what he achieved.

I know they had a good FA Cup run a few years ago, but under Shez they were getting to the play-offs, and just missing out on promotion.

When he left the first time I remember they were in the play-off places, and they’ll obviously be hoping he can bring back the good times.

I was only at Oldham for a very brief spell, but it was a good club to be at.

A lot’s changed from when I was there, even though it’s not so long ago.

Back then they were one of the bigger teams in League One, but over the last few years they’ve slipped to mid-table and just under.

They’re near the bottom this time round, and they’ll be coming to Wigan desperately looking for the three points to try and give them a massive kick.

To be fair, every team that’s come here to play us has been fired up, because of the size and the profile of this club.

It’s not just us – Coventry and Sheffield United are finding the same – and it’s something else to deal with.

It’s part and parcel of playing for a big club.

We go into the game on the back of a nine-match unbeaten run, and we’re obviously looking to keep that going.

The team’s doing well, and there’s a great atmosphere about the place.

A winning dressing room tends to be a happy dressing room, and that’s true for life as well as football.

We’re all in a good place at the moment, and if we can keep working hard, we’re confident we can continue to do well.

It was very sad to hear on Wednesday of the passing of Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside.

Although he hadn’t been well for a while, it was still a massive shock.

I knew him quite well from my time at Bolton, and he was a football man, so passionate about the club.

He’d always have time to chat about football and how things were going.

He was always really good with me, really down to earth and just a nice bloke who’ll be greatly missed.

It’s Valentine’s Day this weekend, but it just another normal week at work for the players.

That’s all I’m thinking about – the game on Saturday and then recovering on Sunday.

Three points will do me for Valentine’s Day.

That would be perfect.

Craig Davies was speaking to Paul Kendrick