Quinn planning for a brighter future

WIN or lose, the future is bright for the Roughyeds, according to chairman Bill Quinn.

Ahead of another National League Two Grand Final appearance, at the end of the second year the club has spent under his stewardship, Quinn has stated that he will be as determined as ever to bring success to the club — whichever division they end up in for 2009.

The 42-year-old believes that the team is better equipped than they were this time last year to cap the season with a win in the one-off promotion decider. But his ambitions don’t begin and end with beating Doncaster at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday.

“I hate losing and it doesn’t bear thinking about,” said Quinn. “I will be as nervous as anyone.

“But last year, it was a game too far against Featherstone and we picked up three serious injuries before half-time.

“This year we go into the game in the right frame of mind.

“It may have been a blessing in disguise losing to Doncaster last time (32-20 in a home play-off two weeks ago). Maybe it will have given them a false sense of security and it may have woken us up a bit, as we showed against Rochdale.

“The lads will go into the game sharper, full of confidence and wanting to do it for the fans as much as anyone.

“It would be a good achievement to win and it will maybe show that Bill Quinn has played his tiny part in pushing the club forward again.

“There are also some very exciting announcements to be made over the next few weeks, with off-field events that will show people that the club is headed in the right direction.

“We will be pushing on with signing players for next season and will show supporters that the club is listening to them.”

Even in the event of a defeat which would mean Oldham stay in NL2 next season, Quinn’s promises that his enthusiasm and ambitions won’t be dimmed.

“If the worst comes to the worst, all I can say is that it will only make me more determined to go up automatically next year,” he said.

“We have got a ‘plan B’ in place and there won’t be any lack of enthusiasm when it comes to bringing in players. I certainly wouldn’t start sulking.

“Even if we win, we have to assess certain areas in which we need to bring in better quality players.

“We would be going into National League One to make an impact, too. The task won’t be finished, as I am not satisfied with just being in NL1 — I will only be satisfied by winning it.

“My focus is on winning on Sunday and then it switches to winning NL1.”