Oldham owner agrees to reverse fan ban call - but only if they apologise

Oldham's controversial owner Abdallah Lemsagam says he will reverse bans handed out to three fans - but only if they "apologise to everyone in the club".

The League Two club are in dire straits and the relationship between the fans and owner soured even further this week when three supporters were banned for "promoting their dislike" of the club.

They all received a letter from Oldham's general manager Steven Brown telling them they were banned from first team and youth games until 2024.

But Lemsagam has now said he will overturn the decision if the trio apologises and "behave like proper fans".

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Speaking to talkSPORT, Lemsagam said: "They have people (who) don't behave or do the right things, this is what happens in every club.

"Any club in the Premier League or Championship, the people who go in the field, shout at the club, they don't have any interest in the club. The people getting banned, I think they deserve it, to be honest with you.

"If they are not behaving like every person just watching the game, they deserve to be banned.

"Of course, they have the right to protest and nobody stops them. But you cannot go on the pitch. If you don't want to come, you're right, if you want to protest nobody can stop you, but why can't I also ban you?

"If you come to the club and protest and do everything against the club and you think the club cannot ban you?

"They can come back if they behave.

"They must apologise to everyone in the club. Not to me, I don't care. But to every person who works in the club, to apologise to them and tell them we are together."

The development is the latest episode in the unpopular premiership of Lemsagam.

Oldham fans have repeatedly protested against him this season. One occasion saw more than 500 Latics' fans walk through the roads surrounding Boundary Park carrying a coffin.

Another stunt was a pledge to 'Empty the Park'. It involved fans boycotting the recent match against Forest Green Rovers at Boundary Park - a stunning game that finished 5-5.

The club are also without a first-team manager after Keith Curle left in November.

Oldham are scheduled to host Scunthorpe United on Boxing Day in a meeting between the EFL's bottom two clubs.