Search for players goes on

ROUGHYEDS coach Steve Deakin admits he is finding it tough to bring in new players to the club.

The bruising 32-12 defeat at Barrow on Friday night saw Oldham pick up yet more injuries.

Neil Roden and Rob Roberts were forced out of the action early on, adding to the blow of losing three men — Paul O’Connor, Daryl Cardiss and Said Tamghart — before the team coach had even set off.

With the list of casualties seemingly ever-growing, the club’s medical team now has the tough task of trying to get a fit 17-man squad out on to the pitch for the big Doncaster game at Boundary Park on Thursday night.

A new player or two would certainly ease that situation, but Deakin admits that much of the process is out of the club’s hands.

“We are massively trying to bring new players in and we are massively trying to get our injured players back on the park,” he said.

“It is something we are working on but the problem is, it is mostly out of our control.

“Players may want to come here, but clubs are loathe to let them go for the very same reasons that we want them.

“It is a question we have asked time and time again recently, but the answer we are getting back is pretty much always the same.

“What people have to take into consideration as well is that you need luck.

“Whether you sign a £15,000 player or a 15p players, they are both worth the same if they are out injured.”

There was good news for Oldham elsewhere in National League Two yesterday, with second-placed Gateshead falling to defeat at Keighley.

Barry Eaton’s side were 20-6 down at half-time at Cougar Park, before a strong second-half comeback saw them triumph 32-24.

The result leaves Gateshead, who have yet to travel to play Barrow, five points clear of the Roughyeds having played a game more.

OLDHAM’S reserves lost 27-16 at home to Barrow at Sedgley Park on Saturday.