Roughyeds go for quality

OLDHAM have set their sights on a “quality appointment” as they step up their search for a successor to head coach Steve Deakin.

The position, which was advertised in the trade press today, has already attracted interest from home and abroad.

But Roughyeds officials will not be rushed into a decision and prefer to get the right man for the job as they pursue promotion from National League Two.

Club chairman Bill Quinn said: “We’ll be going for quality and for someone with a proven track record.

“Interviews will be taking place and we are going to approach this appointment in the same manner as that I have adopted on the signing of players ever since I came to the club.

“In other words, we won’t just be filling a space. We will be going for a quality appointment and we will leave no stone unturned in our search.

“Supporters can rest assured that we will be doing everything possible to bring in the right calibre of person to take us forward on the playing side of things.

“We will prepare for 2009 with just as much vitality and ambition as we approached 2008, but with the aim of rectifying any mistakes we made in 2008 and of continuing to take the club forward.”

Meanwhile, Oldham have contacted the Rugby Football League concerning the eligibility of Doncaster full-back Zeb Luisi.

Roughyeds were attracted to a story which appeared in some early editions of a national newspaper yesterday.

It was claimed that Luisi’s work permit applied only to his employment in Super League and that when he left Harlequins to join the NL2 club a new application was refused, this casting doubt on whether he had been qualified to play for the Dons.

The New Zealander played in each of the four games against Oldham this season.

It was reported that Doncaster said they had played Luisi as an amateur and, on the strength of that, the RFL had looked at the matter and had decided to take no action.