Council in move to find RL site

Chris Hamilton: Trying to find a new home for the Roughyeds.

OLDHAM Council have confirmed publicly that they are actively negotiating with a specific site within the borough as they “desperately” try to assist the Roughyeds bid for a new base.

Having been left with nowhere to play home matches in 2010 following the club’s departure from Boundary Park, Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton has met on more than one occasion with council officers in order to ask for urgent assistance on the matter.

Councillor John McCann, Cabinet Member for Community Services, indicated in an interview on Oldham Community Radio (99.7fm) that the site in question could provide the ideal solution to the problem.

“We have had a meeting with Chris Hamilton,” said Councillor McCann. “A couple of meetings with him, myself, other Cabinet members and officers.

“We are discussing a particular site. I am not going to name it or give details, but it is in the borough, well in the borough. It is possibly available.

“The point is the council is in commercial negotiation with people who have an interest in it.

“We are desperately trying to help them (the Roughyeds).

“Chris Hamilton has spent his life trying to keep this club on the road. The amount of time, effort and money he has put in is incredible.

“If we can help and if we can get a vibrant club going it will benefit everybody.

“A rugby club in an area attracts the youngsters and it is self-disciplining because if a youngster steps out of line a prop-forward soon has a word with him.

“It is good for youngsters because once they get involved with a rugby club they are not interested in smashing streets up or going around in gangs.

“It is something that is theirs and it can become a lifetime’s interest. All that energy can be channelled and used.

“It’s a chance — and we are really going to try to help.”


DETAILS on season tickets for the Roughyeds’ 2010 season will be announced early next week.