Naylor looking to boost squad

WITH the half-way mark fast approaching in Oldham’s bid to climb out of Championship One, coach Scott Naylor is keen to top up his small squad.

He has only nine games four home, five away — in which to accrue enough league points to give his young Roughyeds squad the best possible chance of a tilt at promotion.

With a maximum 21 points from seven games, North Wales Crusaders are a safe bet to finish top and get automatic promotion.

The other club to go up will be the winner of a five-team play-off involving the next five teams — so there’s no margin for error

If Naylor’s nippers are not to finish top they will be setting their sights on second place, which offers the biggest advantages in the play-offs.

Of the nine clubs in the division, only Crusaders and Oldham (currently third) have gained points from every league game played despite losing three of them.

Naylor is keen to have enough players to cope with the unexpected and mount a serious challenge. He hopes to bring in two players on loan soon.

“We’re on the borderline at the moment, but if we were to get a couple of injuries we could have a problem,” he said.

“We’ve had a small squad all season; another two players would take off some of the pressure.”