Roughyeds strive to balance books

OLDHAM RL Club (1997) Ltd still has significant debt and is fighting to balance the books, chairman Chris Hamilton has warned.

The club has done "fantastically well" to overcome the crisis it faced last November, but the financial battle still rages, he said.

Mr Hamilton and his fellow director Sean Whitehead have been encouraged by the response of fans since the club moved to the White-bank Stadium in May.

But he added: "I don't want people thinking we are home and dry. Losses over 13 years are not wiped out by five games at Whitebank."

Further losses were incurred early this season when attendances in the five games at Sedgley Park did not even cover costs.

He added: "We have made fantastic progress and we aim to be more or less debt-free by the end of next year.

"Crowds have improved a lot at Whitebank, but in moving there has been a lot of cost to the club.

"I can't speak too highly of the support we have had or thank people too much for the help we have received from local firms and loads of fans. But we have still had to spend heavily on labour and essential materials.

"Long-term, Whitebank gives us a great opportunity to progress and a base on which to build, but right now the club is still facing a difficult situation.

"Sunday's home game against Swinton will be our first since June 13 – and after that we will have only two more to come in the regular season.

"We get nothing from away games, but we have still to run the club, pay staff, meet travel expenses and pay players, most of it winning pay I am delighted to say."