New start, new attitude

Oldham Rugby League chairman Chris Hamilton at Whitebank Stadium.

HE may have uttered similar words in the past, but this time Oldham RL club chairman Chris Hamilton is truly relishing the prospect of a new era under highly-rated head coach Scott Naylor.

The word ‘new’ is certainly one which accurately describes the Whitebank outfit ahead of the 2013 Kingstone Press Championship One campaign.

As well as Naylor and his assistant Lee Spencer, there are TWELVE fresh faces among the playing staff.

Fans have certainly been impressed with some eye-catching results so far in pre-season friendlies and the Northern Rail Cup, and unsurprisingly, Hamilton is too.

Weighing up the Roughyeds prospects ahead of tomorrow’s league opener against Rochdale Hornets at Whitebank, the chairman said: “There has been quite a dramatic turnaround from last season, though that is something we very much wanted.

“We wanted a new start, a new attitude. We wanted to freshen things up, and obviously from what’s gone on so far, from the start of pre-season to now, everyone’s really pleased.

“Because of the number of changes we’ve seen and the type of people we’ve brought in hopefully it is the beginning of a new era for the club.

DIFFERENT APPROACH

“Things have been done with a view to having a different approach, but I suppose time will tell whether that’s been successful. We’re certainly happy so far, though.

“There’s a new intensity there, and that’s been down to a combination of the people who’ve come in and the facilities we’ve had at our disposal.

“All the boxes have been ticked if you like, to really have an impact from day one in terms of training and everything.

“That’s been borne out so far when you look back at the results we’ve enjoyed in the friendlies and Northern Rail Cup.

“At the end of the day there is an end goal there — we want to get out of this division.

“We’re all hoping that there’s going to be a steely determination there, as well as total commitment and a real endeavour, to make this year our year.”
for the full version of this story buy the Chronicle or read the digital editions on eChron and iChron