Roughyeds still in hunt for players

OLDHAM have confirmed they are still exploring the possibility of bringing in further additions to the 2009 squad.

Coach Tony Benson currently has 26 first-team players, not including the five youngsters from last season’s reserves side who have been handed professional contracts.

That means the Roughyeds are already one up on the squad which started the season last year — which contained two men, Lee Wingfield and Lee Sanderson, who didn’t play a minute for the first team in 2008.

Now, with players such as Paul Highton, Paul Reilly, Andy Ballard and Thomas Coyle and having come on board from a higher level, National League Two salary cap restrictions may mean that hands are tied concerning new signings.

“There are still a couple of avenues that Tony wants us to follow up,” Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton confirmed.

“But it has to be said that we have already spent a lot of money.”

The only member of last year’s squad not to have been confirmed as either staying at the club or going elsewhere is Gareth Langley.

The 24-year-old winger, Oldham’s top points scorer in his first full season in professional rugby in 2007, is due to have a shoulder operation in the next few weeks that is likely to keep him out until well after Christmas.

At this stage the club isn’t confirming whether or not Langley is being offered a new deal but with a wealth of options in the backs, his future at Oldham appears doubtful.