Mystery backers help Roughyeds

CHRIS HAMILTON has revealed that three anonymous backers are behind the recent rescue of Oldham Roughyeds.

The identity of the trio, all supporters of Oldham RL club, is being kept under wraps at their own request and Hamilton will continue to be the sole board member.

Following the deal which sealed the departure of previous majority shareholder Bill Quinn and the paying off of a tax bill totalling more than £47,000, Hamilton told the Chronicle he hopes the club is now able to move forward with support from the terraces rather than sniping from the sidelines.

“There are still significant debts at the club and so the paying off of that winding up order is not the end,” said Hamilton. “In some ways, it is the beginning. But the whole process has been about starting to secure the future of the club.

“The RFL were involved in talks both prior and subsequent to the deal taking place.

“We are confident that while it will be tough we will get through and hopefully make the long-term position of the club more secure.”

Imposing stricter controls on player wages is now the aim of the game as the club fights back.

While Oldham won’t be offering contracts on the same scale as in the past two seasons, Hamilton still expects to assemble a very capable squad in Co-operative Championship One.

“In fairness, the players have been expecting it and there has to be a hard-nosed attitude,” he said. “I have explained to the players that it is nothing personal, but my main focus is simply to make sure we have a club here.

“What we are doing now is similar to what a number of clubs are doing, in terms of tightening belts and not paying out the same sort of money that has been paid in previous years.”

Support for the club dropped off last year and an uncompromising Hamilton insisted that Oldham needs to prove itself to be a true “rugby town” by backing the professional club.

“One of the messages I want to get out very strongly is that it is about time people stopped moaning and started backing the club,” he said.

“The reality of the situation is that we faced being wound up. So the question to people is, do you want a club or not?

“We have a lot of good supporters who get behind the team and the club but like other clubs, we have a bunch of moaners as well.

“People need to take a step back and look what people have done. Not only me, but others at the club in terms of the commitment they have.

“We need to start being positive instead of being negative all the time.”

RECRUITMENT

Coach Tony Benson is back in the country from holiday and will hold a meeting with Hamilton today to discuss player recruitment.

Hamilton will also seek to meet urgently with Council Leader Howard Sykes early next week to discuss the situation regarding a lack of a suitable ground for the rugby club to pay on within the borough.

The Roughyeds have been denied use of Boundary Park.