Benson calls on Roden expertise

OLDHAM will once again keep it in the family next season, with the appointment of Neil Roden’s cousin Martin as team conditioner.

The 28-year-old, formerly a player at Wigan, Leigh and Blackpool, will have a major involvement over the course of the season with his responsibilities concerning the overall fitness of the squad.

It means that, along with the Coyle brothers James and Thomas, there are now two pairs of fellow family members working together at the club.

Roden previously allied himself to coach Tony Benson at Leigh in 2006 before taking a break from the game, and the new Roughyeds head coach was sufficiently impressed with the work he did to ask him to team up once again.

“Martin is someone Tony was very keen to bring in and the lads who have worked with him before have a lot of respect for what he does,” said Oldham chief executive Chris Hamilton.

“I am sure that he can bring a lot of good qualities to us.”

In terms of the pre-season, Roden will be working on strength, physical and mental conditioning, the setting of weights programmes, the running of tests on players and the recording of those results.

Once the action gets under way, he will continue to work on individual as well as squad fitness.

The players will meet up with Benson and Roden tonight in the first group get-together since the new appointments were made.

Also present will be Mr Hamilton and chairman Bill Quinn, with pre-season training proper due to start tomorrow evening.