Oldham land former United youngster

Oldham boss Paul Dickov has beaten off stiff competition to make former Manchester United midfielder Ritchie Jones his first signing.

Jones, 23, is thought to have been offered a contract by a Championship outfit and two other clubs in League One following his recent departure from Hartlepool.

Dickov said: "We feel very lucky to have brought in Ritchie as a lot of clubs were looking at him and one Championship club had offered him a deal as had others from our division."

He added: "When I took over, Ritchie was a player I identified as somebody with a great pedigree having obviously started at Manchester United, where he appeared in the first team, and who over the last two years has probably been Hartlepool's best player."

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