Roughyeds friendly hopes

OLDHAM hope to be in a position to confirm their pre-season friendlies programme early next week, with the hope being that the Roughyeds will line up against more than one Super League club.

Chief executive Chris Hamilton talked to a number of club officials at the RFL Council meeting on Wednesday and aims to firm up "two or three" more pre-season games over the weekend.

That is in addition to the friendly that currently exists, away at Swinton Lions on Sunday, January 11, which doubles as a joint testimonial match for John Hough and Wayne English.

While there is a potentially lucrative home game against Leeds Rhinos to fit in, which comes as part of the deal which saw Oldham travel to Headingley last year to play in Kevin Sinfield's testimonial, another unidentified top flight club could yet take on Tony Benson's men at some point before the season starts with a Northern Rail Cup game against Rochdale Hornets on Sunday, February 8.

Another friendly possibility is a clash against the Hornets in the Law Cup, which the Spotland outfit claimed via a 26-20 victory prior to last season.




GATESHEAD Thunder coach Dave Woods has been sacked by the club, less than three months after being named National League Two coach of the year for steering the rank outsiders to the title.