The Dons produced a magnificent second-half to win yesterday's League Two promotion play-off final at Warrington.
But rugby league legend Ellery Hanley, who steered the relegated club back to League One in his first season in charge, will not be at the helm in 2009. He announced that he was quitting the Dons immediately following the final whistle.
But Hanley, whose decision is related to wealthy chairman Craig Harrison's rumoured departure in the near future, had already made his decision known to his players 90 minutes before the game.
The behind-the-scenes drama may go some way towards explaining a below-par first half showing by the Dons, who were 6-2 down at the break.
Their defence - which was to win them the game in the second half - also looked shaky at times during a first quarter.
Beaten by Featherstone in last season's play-off final, Oldham looked like they meant business from the off.
Nick Nanyn, who missed every other kick, opened the score with an eighth-minute penalty.
Oldham, who finished one place ahead of the fourth-placed Dons, increased their lead on 33 minutes when James Coyle sent Ian Hodson racing in.
Scrum-half Luke Gale, recently snapped up by Super League oufit Harlequins, opened the Dons account with a penalty.
The Dons drew level four minutes after the restart when second-rower Chris Buttery caught the Oldham defence flat-footed on an angled run. Gale added the extras to put the Dons ahead for the first time at 8-6.
Gale forced his way over from acting half-back five metres out on 50 minutes - the video referee deciding that he had got the ball down over the line despite the efforts of O'Connor.
Gale, whose try extended his new club tries-in-a-season record to 30, again added the extras to make it 14-6.
More Oldham pressure paid off on 64 minutes when Nanyn, who will also be plying his trade with Harlequins next season, touched down.
The Dons weathered another onslaught and gave themselves extra breathing space with a 75th minute try.
Half-back Kyle Briggs dived over the left-hand corner after the ball had been moved across the pitch.
Oldham battled bravely until the end, though they went close to conceding a fourth try at the death - the video referee ruling that hooker Corey Lawrie had not got the ball down.
It was Lawrie's last game for the club before returning home to New Zealand.
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