Fire burning brightly

CHRIS McDONNELL . . . defiant.

OLDHAM go into the new season with problems on and off the field, but with a fierce determination to battle against adversity.

At one stage last week, Oldham looked set to quit the CLL such was their shortage of players.

But, after an emergency meeting, the Pollards club decided to soldier on.

With last season’s skipper Mel Whittle on his way to Micklehurst and, at this stage, no professional signed for 2009, Oldham clearly face a testing season.

Of last season’s side which finished runners-up to Heywood, key all-rounder Stuart Moore, wicketkeeper Jason Maher and seam bowlers Liam Garnett and Ryan Mayes have also gone to pastures new, leaving new skipper Chris McDonnell, vice-captain Paul Thompson, overseas amateur Nick Maree and batsmen Naveed Mohammed and Abid Hussain as the only survivors.

Saeed Wasif, who played at the start of last season, has agreed to return along with Neil Inkpen, but Oldham will rely heavily on young talent from the second team, particularly in the bowling department.

All-rounder Craig Taylor and left-arm quickie Bilal Hussain will be given their chance, as will Ben Fletcher and Craig Joy, two youngsters with some first-team experience.

The capture of a professional remains McDonnell’s priority after efforts to sign last season’s paid man Chinthaka Jayasinghe and South African Hendrick van der Dussen fell through.

But at least Oldham have a stand-in for Sunday’s opening game against Radcliffe in the shape of J P Lee, the former Werneth overseas amateur and the new paid man at Saddleworth League club Moorside.

McDonnell’s task in moulding a team together this summer is a huge one, but the new skipper is determined, like the rest of his team, to give it his best shot.

“It looks like we are going to be struggling for bowlers, but we will be doing our best to be as competitive as we can,” he said.