Spencer: Youth is path to follow

Oldham RL Club’s assistant coach Lee Spencer is urging the town to get behind the Roughyeds’ young players in their push for promotion.

The average age of 14 of the 17 players who won at Oxford on Sunday was 21 — but Spencer believes they are good enough to go all the way.

Currently second, six points clear of third-placed Hemel, Oldham will hit top spot for the first time if they beat South Wales Scorpions at Whitebank on Sunday (3pm kick-off) to make it nine wins from their last 11 league outings.

Spencer, head coach Scott Naylor’s number two, said: “It’s within our grasp to take this club forward to the next division in our first year here.

“We have completely changed the culture of the club on the playing side. That isn’t a criticism of previous coaching regimes, but a statement of fact.

“Both Scott and I believe fervently in a youth policy and we see it as the path to follow in our drive to push for promotion and, if successful, to consolidate in the Championship next year.”

Both Naylor and Spencer are under contract for another year.

“We probably have the youngest squad in the division, but we are going well because the players believe in us and we believe in them.

“We truly think we are on the verge of something big, and I think the stay-away supporters would see that if they came to look for themselves.”