Deakin and top brass in Roughyeds talks

OLDHAM officials were today in talks with Steve Deakin in the aftermath of their National League Two Grand Final defeat by Doncaster.

Club chairman Bill Quinn and chief executive Chris Hamilton, who held a long meeting yesterday, will sit down with the Roughyeds coach to dissect the season and look ahead.

Deakin, who has guided Oldham to NL2 Grand Finals in each of the last two years, and his assistant Mark Cass are out of contract at the end of November.

“We’ll give our opinion and I’m sure Steve will give his, but these meetings take place at the end of every week and at the end of every season,” said Mr Hamilton.

“There is a lot to discuss, because the off-season is a busy time.

“A list has already been drawn up of those players who we would like to see here next season and those who will not be offered new deals. We started that procedure before Sunday’s Grand Final.

“We’ll be talking to players when we can but, with the season over, some will be taking the opportunity to go on holiday.”

Only captain Rob Roberts, new-boy Andy Ballard and up-and-coming prop Luke Sutton have signed up for 2009 when Oldham will be spending their third season in National League Two. Ben Seru is contracted until November 2009, but won’t be fit until the middle of next season after undergoing a major knee operation.

Mick Nanyn has played his last game for the club — he has agreed to join Harlequins in Super League — while the players on two-year deals on proviso promotion was achieved include James Coyle, Tommy Goulden, Danny Halliwell, Lucas Onyango, Gareth Langley, Richard Mervill, Marcus St Hilaire, Adam Robinson, Chris Baines, Paul O’Connor, Phil Joseph and Craig Littler.

Said Tamghart, Matty Brooks, Daryl Cardiss and Jason Boults are on one-year deals, while Ian Hodson, Neil Roden, Simeon Hoyle and Luke Menzies (loan) are on contracts which run out soon.