Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opened Manchester United’s doors to Paul Scholes after the midfielder quit as Oldham manager by text message just 31 days into the job.
The 44-year-old signed an 18-month deal last month to take his first step in management with his boyhood club.
But things quickly went awry at Boundary Park and Scholes quit the Sky Bet League Two side on Thursday after one win in seven matches.
The former England international left claiming it had become “clear that (he) would not be able to operate as intended and was led to believe prior to taking on the role”.
Those sentiments were shared with Solskjaer, who has invited former team-mate Scholes into the Aon Training Complex for a chat.
Asked if he was surprised to see Scholes leave, Solskjaer responded with a laugh: “Were you? Well, he’s probably got his reasons why he left. You’ve got to ask him (if he will go into management again).
“He’s invited here if he wants to come and have a little chat about it. I’ve texted with him of course and it didn’t work out as he wanted, so that’s just management.”
The subject of Scholes coming into the club was revisited later in the press conference.
“He’s been great so far and you see ex-players coming in and if they want to learn, if they want to stay for a few days, a week,” Solskjaer added.
“Because Kieran (McKenna), Michael (Carrick), Demps (Mark Dempsey) and even in the academy there’s so many good coaches.
“And I know when I was away that I would have loved to come in and maybe do some study visits, but I had work, so I didn’t get the chance to do it.”
Scholes spent some time coaching at United after retiring for the first time in 2011, then worked during Ryan Giggs’ short interim period at the helm three years later.
Another return to the Old Trafford backroom team looks a long way off having surprised Oldham with his decision to leave.
Latics owner Abdallah Lemsagam was shocked to receive Scholes’ resignation via text message and said he would have liked to have the chance to “find solutions” to any grievances.
“I am disappointed by Paul’s decision to resign and surprised by the reasons he has given in his statement,” Lemsagam said in a statement.
“Both myself and the staff at the club gave Paul all the support and autonomy that he asked for. I personally was always supportive of any decisions Paul made or consulted me on reassuring him that he was the man in charge.
“I continued to encourage him despite the results and reassured him that his job was secure.
Paul Scholes statement confirming his exit from Oldham pic.twitter.com/QP8WO5rfZx— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) March 14, 2019
“I was content to remain in League Two for this season and working with the team we have for the remainder of this season is important.
“Paul and I both agreed that there is potential, but I reassured him that he had my full backing to rebuild the team of his choice next season.
“He did not raise any concerns at all about the team or any other matters informally or formally, prior to his resignation. He gave no opportunity or indications that he needed to address any issues at all.
“I have been in Dubai over the last couple of weeks and actually (felt) at ease knowing that he was in charge.
“I was very surprised as he simply resigned by text on Wednesday afternoon and has refused to discuss matters that influenced him to make his decision.”
