Focus turns to new coach

Oldham’s Danny Whitmore applauds the travelling fans after the play-off defeat to Workington Town. PICTURE: DAVE MURGATROYD.

WITH hopes of play-off success over, Oldham RL are now turning their attention to appointing a new coach.

And Scott Naylor is the latest name to be linked with the vacant job.

The former Wigan, Salford and Bradford man is in the frame to take over from Kiwi Tony Benson, who left in early August.

Naylor (40), who won three England caps in 2000, was coach Shaun McRae’s assistant at Salford until 2010.

Meanwhile, winger Lucas Onyango’s 2012 season ended early at Workington yesterday when he was pulled out of Oldham’s line-up only minutes before the start of a hard-fought elimination play-off.

He was named on the official team sheet and took part in the pre-match warm-up, but the player wearing Onyango’s No 2 shirt when the teams ran on to the field was young reserve team forward Phil Joy.

Caretaker coach Martin Roden had to reshuffle his side at the last minute, switching Mark McCully from centre to wing; taking Paul Noone out of the pack to fill-in at centre; and calling up Joy, the

travelling reserve, to take Noone's place in the forwards.

Despite that setback the battling Roughyeds led 19-6 at one stage and were pipped at the post by a last-minute try from Town centre James Mossop.

Referee Gareth Hewer confirmed after the game that he placed on report an incident just before half-time in which Jarrad Stack, the Workington second-row forward, complained to the match official that there were tooth marks in his arm.