Benson agrees Oldham deal

TONY BENSON, the man who guided Oldham to the Co-operative Championship One play-off final last season, will have another crack at promotion with the Roughyeds.

The former Leigh Centurions and London Skolars boss, who is currently on holiday in New Zealand, said “yes” after he was asked to remain as coach during a telephone conversation with the club’s chief executive Chris Hamilton.

The finer details of Benson’s new deal will be completed on his return next week when preparations will begin in earnest for the start of pre-season training on Monday, November 16.

But Mr Hamilton is delighted that the Kiwi will remain in charge for a second year after he came agonisingly close to masterminding promotion despite losing a clutch of key players in mid-season.

He said: “I spoke to Tony on the ’phone and it took him about one second for him to agree to stay on.

“He was chuffed and is fully behind what’s going on here. He did a great job in difficult circumstances last season and I’m looking forward to working with him again.

“He has quite rightly earned a lot of respect from a great many people in his time at the club and I’m sure that will continue.”

The offer of a new contract followed Mr Hamilton’s success in securing the future of the Roughyeds.

The winding up petition against the club was averted after a payment of more than £47,000 was confirmed by HM Customs and Excise as having satisfied the relevant tax arrears.

Mr Hamilton, who bought all of Bill Quinn’s shares to take over the sole ownership of the club, is now looking to build a squad for next season.

He said: “I’ve contacted quite a few of the players who were contracted to us last season and I’ll be looking to set up meetings in the very near future.

“I understand one or two who were with us are going to play elsewhere and that’ll become a lot clear in the a few days.

“But I will also be looking to talk to prospective new players, so there is plenty to be getting on with.”