Evolution or Pro-Evolution?

Oldham Athletic announced on Wednesday 27th April that they were changing the club crest, which they had used since 1983, to a new design. This was the long-awaited 'evolution' fans had been waiting for according to the club. The immediate reaction was not good. Fans were not consulted at all in the process and many only knew about the decision following the announcement. Some people say that it is only a badge while other fans see it as an important symbol of their club and community. I'm not sitting on the fence here, I don't like it and want to keep the old badge. The new badge looks like one of those crappy NHL badges you get on Pro-Evolution Soccer (I'm not knocking the game BTW, it's top), and to say I was disappointed is an understatement.

After the months of wrangling over the proposed ground at Failsworth which was rejected by the Charities Commission, to a dramatic slump in form on the pitch, dwindling crowds, talk of administration and even the possibility that we wouldn't be able to play at Boundary Park next season, what we Latics fans needed was a shot in the arm. It seemed that this new 'Evolution' could provide it. Then, come the evening of unveling what did we get? An owl that looks like it's had 10 pints of Stella on a night out on Yorkshire Street and wants to kick someone's arse. 


So what can be done? In 2005 Coventry Citys' announcement that they were changing the club badge provoked fury amongst supporters. Over 5000 fans wrote and emailed to the Coventry Telegraph who then mounted a successful campaign to save the current badge. The parallels are uncanny, even down to the shield design. In 2005 Coventry City chairman Mike McGinty stated "Our existing crest has been in use for over 20 years and while it symbolises much of the tradition of our past, we felt that a change was needed to symbolise our future. This is not a decision we arrived at lightly and we are aware of how much the badge means to our supporters. I hope that given time they will take this new badge to their hearts."

Here is how the club broke the news to supporters on the official website back then....

Look and sound familiar? Here is the old and new Oldham Athletic badge.

Oldham Athletic Chief Executive Alan Hardy stated that he hoped fans that didn't like the new badge would grow to like it, or something like that. I can't be sure because for whatever reason this particular quote has been removed from the club website. Clearly the club are not going to change their decision unless the fans pull together and strongly object as 'the Cov' did back in 2005.

A Facebook group has been set up to garner support for preserving the current badge.

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Campaign-to-preserve-the-current-Oldham-Athletic-badge/170204406367558

Fan power can work as illustrated by Coventry City and I urge anyone who dislikes the new badge to join this group, and write letters to the Oldham Chronicle and the club.