Hamilton secures Roughyeds future

Chris Hamilton

CHRIS HAMILTON has finally managed to secure the future of the Oldham RL club.

Having successfully signed off a deal to buy the whole of Bill Quinn’s shareholding yesterday afternoon, the winding-up petition against the club — due to be heard in the High Court tomorrow — has been averted after a payment of over £47,000 was confirmed by HM Customs and Excise as having satisfied the relevant tax arrears.

Hamilton has been the club’s sole board member since Quinn stepped down in May of this year, effectively revoking his chairmanship in accordance with RFL rules.

Quinn subsequently announced his intention to sell his stake in the club. But while Hamilton was keen to buy, the two men had been unable to come to an arrangement over a deal until last week, with Quinn believed to be keen to instead sell his shareholding to outside investors.

That quest was apparently fruitless, leaving current RFL president Hamilton as the only suitor.

And, having made it clear that he was happy to pay the urgent tax bill only on the condition that he took over the club from Quinn, Hamilton is now keen to look forward rather then comment on the turmoil of the past few months.

“A lot of work has to be done from here,” said Hamilton this morning.

“The main thing, though, is that Oldham still has a professional rugby league club and we now move forwards.”

One of the first tasks to be done is putting in place a coaching team and squad for next season, with pre-season training due to begin in two weeks’ time.

Tony Benson, currently on holiday in New Zealand, is likely to be offered the chance to take the position of head coach for the second season running.

A number of current squad members could be offered new deals.

Steve Prescott, the 35–year–old former Great Britain full–back who has raised more than £180,000 for charity despite battling cancer, is the 2009 winner of the Rugby League Writers Association Merit Award.

Prescott, who was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer in 2006, received the award at the RLWA annual dinner in Manchester.