Popular Baines to join Keighley

PLAYER of the year Chris Baines has left Oldham to join Keighley Cougars, the side that beat the Roughyeds last month to gain promotion to the Co-operative Championship.

The popular second-row forward played in all but one of the Roughyeds’ games last season, but departs the club to take up a role which combines playing with the role of the club’s sport development officer.

“We had made Chris an offer but he was always going to be in demand after the sort of season he had,” said Oldham owner Chris Hamilton, of a player who scored 114 points in 29 matches in 2009.

“I am sure there will be others to leave, but the most important thing is that the club’s future is secure.”

Also leaving is winger Lee Greenwood, who has signed for Batley. He joins two other players from last season — Thomas Coyle (Widnes) Luke Menzies (Dewsbury) — who have moved on to pastures new in a higher division, while Tommy Goulden will line up against Oldham in Championship One next season having left to join relegated Leigh.

Hamilton, who took full control of the club earlier this week after buying out Bill Quinn, offered contracts to a number of players yesterday and is set for more meetings today, with the start of pre-season training under coach Tony Benson only a week-and-a-half away.

Prop forward Jamie I’Anson has had good news after seeing a specialist about the wrist injury which caused him to play with painkilling injections at the end of last season.

He doesn’t need an operation to correct the problem, which should settle down by itself.

NEW Zealand back-row forward Greg Eastwood is out of Saturday's Gillette Four Nations showdown with England due to a broken a bone in his left wrist.