Isherwood keen to make amends

JOURNEYMAN forward Andy Isherwood is back at Oldham to provide a young pack with a bit of steel.

The former Wigan, Leigh (twice), Widnes, Rochdale and Swinton forward had a brief stay with the Roughyeds at the start of the 2005 season.

Now, two months short of six years since he last put pen to paper on a Roughyeds contract, the 30-year-old second-row man has returned to the club on a one-year deal.

“He will give us more power, strength, experience and mental toughness,” said chairman Chris Hamilton, who clinched the deal last night at the player’s home near Leigh.

Isherwood, who was at Swinton in the season just finished, rejected approaches from another of his former clubs, Hornets, in order to turn back the clock at Oldham.

With Gary Mercer as coach, Isherwood played only three pre-season games for Roughyeds in 2005 — against Hornets in the Law Cup and friendlies against Halifax and Leeds — before leaving the sport for a couple of years and then surfacing again at Rochdale.

“I didn’t do myself justice the last time I was at Oldham,” said Isherwood. “I am keen to get back and make amends. I want to finish what I started.

“I had offers from Rochdale and Oldham, but I chose Roughyeds because I already have a few close friends there and I would love to do my bit in steering the club to automatic promotion in 2011.

“We don’t want to leave anything to chance next time. I’m excited by the challenge and by the prospect of playing at the Whitebank Stadium in front of decent crowds creating a good atmosphere.

“Everything about the club is on the up and I want very much to be part of it.”

Of the 2011 signings announced so far, Isherwood is the first newcomer.

Hamilton said: “Things didn’t work out for him the last time he was here, but that was due to circumstances that were beyond the control of both himself and the club.

“He has a good knowledge of the club and what makes us tick and, most important of all, he was keen to come and we were delighted to get him.”