On-loan defender Anthony Gerrard believes Latics can be a force in the division next season if they stick by the current management set up in place.
The defender, speaking during Thursday's press conference, faces his former side tomorrow afternoon as Latics travel to the Bescot Stadium to face Walsall.
Gerrard, who is on loan from Championship side Huddersfield Town, said: "What I have seen and what I've seen of the league so far, it is minimal margins of being a play-off or top team to where we are.
"If you tot the points up that we have lost over the last couple of games, the Coventry game, the Chesterfield game we could have won and they are the ones I've been involved in. We went to Crawley full of optimism and it was a game we should have won but it wasn't to be.
"From what I can see, if the managerial staff stays as it is next season, I fancy Oldham being close to the play-offs next year."
The defender has helped the club to three clean sheets in his five games this season and he spoke highly of his time thus far.
"All the lads here are top drawer and it reminds me of when I was at Walsall," he admitted. "It's a proper football club in a proper football environment with the banter and ripping the back out of each other.
"The higher you go you don't get that because people take themselves too serious and to insistent on what they have got on and what shoes they are buying but the lads here are having a giggle and that's what it's like for me."
Asked whether he would consider a permanent move to the club at the end of the season, Gerrard responded: "Of course I would think about a move. You can't turn any offers down but it's what is best for you and your family in a particular circumstance. We have got two games to go and then I'll weigh my options up and then we will go from there.
"At present, though, nothing is happening with me at the moment. I'm just trying to enjoy my football, play the rest of the games until the end of the season and then I'll take it once the season is over and done with. I am in the unfortunate position at the start of the season to be a free transfer but as it panned out, it's been a nightmare season for me.
"If you are a free agent, you need to be constantly playing games because if you don't play, people forget about you quickly. I came to Oldham to put my face about again and say I am fit, I am available and I am a free transfer next season if anyone wants me."
It is Latics' final away game of the season and the 29-year-old is looking forward to going back to his former club tomorrow.
"It will be good to go back to Walsall. I'll have to give my statue outside the ground a little polish from my League Two exploits," he joked.
"I have fond memories from the club and the way it is run is fantastic. The fans are top drawer and they get about 4,000 per game, which doesn't sound a lot but when you are competing with Wolves, Birmingham, Aston Villa, to get that amount week in, week out is a fantastic achievement."
Watch the full interview on Latics Player.