Oldham aiming high, says Naylor

Photo: Darren Robinson

Scott Naylor

WITH 29 of Oldham’s 30 Championship matches still to be played in their first year in tier two, Scott Naylor has revealed the club’s long-term plan is to fight its way back to Super League.

Interviewed on TV last night, Naylor said: “Hopefully, this is just the start of a long road in which we will get the club back to where we think it deserves to be — in the top division. The town is a huge rugby town.”

Owner-chairman Chris Hamilton and fans were also given the opportunity to air their thoughts on what had happened to rugby league in Oldham since the birth of Super League 20 years ago and the liquidation of Oldham Bears in 1997.

Said Hamilton: “Like most clubs, we incur losses and ultimately that comes out of my pocket.

“The situation is symptomatic of problems we inherited when the old club went bust. Oldham RLFC 1997 Ltd started with literally nothing - including no ground.”

Fans ultimately want an Oldham stadium that meets minimum standards for the upper leagues. Four of the 12 Championship clubs — Leigh Centurions, Sheffield Eagles, Bradford Bulls and London Broncos - also enjoy the benefits of full-time professionalism.

Naylor said: “It’s tough to work full time and then play rugby. Mentally you have to prepare like a full-time pro, but the realist in you says you are not a full-time pro.

“We have fewer staff and less money to spend than them, but these are excuses and I don’t like excuses.”

Three of Oldham’s first five games are against full-time opponents, the other two are against Dewsbury Rams at home and Featherstone Rovers away.

Said Naylor: “We don’t want to be a one-season wonder. We want to be back where we feel we belong. We want it to be like the old days, when Oldham drew big crowds and played the best teams.

“This is the start of it. It’s taken us a long time to get here and we intend to stay. It’s exciting.”