Roberts on the lookout

PARTING OF THE WAYS: Robert Roberts (with ball) looks to offload in the Northern Rail Cup quarter-final against Featherstone, his last appearance for Oldham.

No hard feelings as sacked star seeks new club

DEPARTED club captain Robert Roberts could yet line up against Oldham this season.

Having been dismissed by the club for disciplinary reasons at the beginning of this week, the second row forward is currently on the lookout for a new club and has already attracted interest from two un-named sides — one of which is a competitor in the Roughyeds’ own Championship One division.

The 29-year-old reckons he will be fit again after a knee injury to be back in action in around three weeks’ time and says he bears no grudge against Oldham, branding the two years he spent at the club as the happiest of his rugby league life.

“It is disappointing that I have left under these circumstances as me and (chief executive) Chris Hamilton have a really good working relationship and I have the utmost respect for him,” said Roberts.

“It is important that people know that me and him haven’t fallen out or anything.

“It wasn’t a major incident that led to me leaving, but it came when I was on my last warning and you can’t have one rule for me and one for everyone else.

“I have got nothing against the club whatsoever. I have had the two best years of my career at Oldham.

“Sometimes people don’t realise exactly how much work Chris puts into the club. He was not only my boss but I also consider him my friend, too. We have parted on good terms.

“I am sorry to leave and now I have to look towards the future. I will probably be fit in around three weeks and though it is an awkward time to be looking for a new club carrying an injury, I will hopefully get fixed up.

“I have already spoken to two clubs, one at this level and one at the top end of Championship One, so I am hoping to get sorted soon.”

Roberts finishes his Oldham career having made a total of 56 appearances over three seasons, scoring 15 tries and a famous, match-winning drop goal on debut away at York.

The former Hull, Huddersfield, Keighley and Leigh player, who is taking his Level Three coaching badges in the off-season, is hopeful that he will at some point be able to resume the community work within local schools that he attracted such praise for during his time with the Roughyeds.

“I have had phone calls from schools and the kids are upset too and that gets to me as it was, and still is, something I may look towards doing when I finish playing,” added Roberts, who confirmed he is no longer planning to emigrate to Australia at the end of this season.

“The Oldham fans have been great too and I just hope now that the team goes on to win promotion.

“Hopefully, without wanting to sound too bigheaded, someone can pick up that leadership role with the younger players stepping up as well.

“In every game now it is important to get a roll on to lead into the next one. It looks like the play-offs now and it is all-or-nothing then.”

Reserves lose

OLDHAM’S reserves lost 22-17 at home to Whitehaven, the same opposition who blasted them 50-18 in Cumbria two weeks ago.

John Hough’s men, 22-11 down at one point, were chasing the game right until the end. Tries came from Matty Ashe, Jamie Knight and Chris Clarke, with goals from Ross Coates and Mark Smith and a Chris Hough drop goal.