Hamilton fights back

ROUGHYEDS chief executive Chris Hamilton has issued a vigorous defence of his position at the club.

Following on from comments made by Bill Quinn in yesterday’s Chronicle, the club’s chief executive has blasted the notion that he has left the majority shareholder in he dark about club affairs, describing it as “incorrect and insulting”.

A statement released last night by the club’s founder revealed that Quinn’s resignation from the board in May – which Quinn claims was down to a clerical error – occurred while Mr Hamilton was away on holiday and asserts that Quinn was aware of the background to captain Robert Roberts’ recent sacking.

Mr Hamilton also says that he has on several occasions offered to resign, each time being turned down.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester last night Quinn repeated his willingness to sell part or all of his 75-per-cent shareholding in the club.

In the statement issued bya Chris Hamilton the chief executive says: “Prior to the start of his (Bill Quinn’s) involvement in the club I offered to step aside if he felt this would be in the best interest of the club with a new owner and a new start. That offer was declined.

“On several occasions since I have reiterated that offer – not because of ill feeling or anything else between us, but simply on the basis that if it was felt it would benefit the club then it could be an option.

“The suggestion that he is being left in the dark about important club matters is both incorrect and insulting.

“With Bill having resigned his position as a director of the club whilst I was on holiday in May that inevitably made the reporting of daily activities more difficult. However, as major shareholder he still is in ultimate control of the running of the club and as chief executive I work for him.

“The sacking of Robert Roberts was a decision made by myself as part of my role at the club and whilst not a party to that particular decision Bill was aware of the background events and the club’s position prior to the last incident.

“There are no ‘urgent’ talks being requested by Bill and he has also confirmed to me that his reference to ‘lots of things going on that nobody else would put up with over the last 6-8 months’ are nothing at all to do with our relationship and are general matters connected with the running of a rugby league club.

“The present situation is that myself and Bill are talking regularly to discuss the best way forward for the club.”

On the team news front for Sunday’s big game at home to Keighley (3pm kick off), Oldham coach Tony Benson has selected a 19-man squad but will delay naming his side until Saturday morning.

Oldham (from): O’Connor, Reilly, Onyango, Ballard, Baines, Goulden, Greenwood, Roden, J Coyle, T Coyle, Boults, Sykes, Robinson, Allen, Joseph, Kerr, I’Anson, St Hilaire, Highton.