Rail shake-up to lighten the load

OLDHAM should be free of the punishing three-games-in-a-week schedule for next season.

In 2008, successes in the Northern Rail Cup and Carnegie Challenge Cup competitions meant that, added to a packed National League Two fixture list, away matches had to be squeezed into midweek at far-flung locations like Gateshead and London Skolars, significantly adding to the workload of an already stretched squad.

However, following a restructuring of both the Northern Rail Cup and National League Two, those worries shouldn’t hinder the Roughyeds’ promotion push this time around.

The NRC in 2009 will feature just four group stage matches for each team, as opposed to the six of previous years. In Oldham’s case, two of those will be against NL1 opposition and two against fellow NL2 sides, with a home and away tie in each category. Groups will no longer be regionalised and the first round of matches is provisionally scheduled to start on Sunday, February 8.

With NL2 this year only containing 10 sides as opposed to 12, there is an overall reduction in the number of fixtures and weekends have been set aside ‘free’ of league fixtures to host NRC knockout stages.

The number of guaranteed home matches in 2009, three less than last year, will adversely affect Oldham financially, but that effect is mitigated by the belief that is should also boost the chances of nailing a promotion spot.

“Like any other club, one of the major sources of income is from the gate receipts and fewer matches will affect us in that respect,” said Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton.

“But you can also take the opposing view in that we can maintain the quality of the team and the fitness and welfare of the players. There are plusses and minuses to it.”

It has been confirmed that next season, the club finishing top of NL2 will be automatically promoted, with a second spot available to the winners of the play-offs. Two clubs will be relegated from NL1 to replace them.

Fixture lists are expected to be released in late November and information on season ticket process for next year is due early next week.