Love at first sight for Oldham coach

Guy Lovegreen

NEW Oldham RU coach Guy Lovegreen can’t wait for the North Lancs & Cumbria division one season to get under way.

Lovegreen (32) takes his Manor Park side to Blackburn on Saturday, September 4 for what could turn into something of a grudge match.

He explained: “I had a few job offers on the table when Oldham contacted me, one of which was Blackburn!

“It might all be forgotten by then, certainly after the game, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Lovegreen was player-coach at Wigan and Bolton before Oldham, who were looking for a level three coach, got in touch.

He is director of sport at Bury Grammar School and still lives in the town.

Two training sessions was all it took for Lovegreen to fall in love with the place.

He replaces Lee Kemp, who left because of family commitments after 18 months in the role .

He said: “I’ve settled right in. It feels homely and there has been a lot of positive feedback from the lads, so obviously I’m delighted.

“The squad is still taking shape because the club wants to bring in two or three more players before the league campaign starts.

“I’ve got a couple of weeks to decide whether or not to register as a player-coach.

“I feel in good shape so I will probably take up the option to feature in the side.”

With seven teams from the North-West and another seven hailing from Cumbria, there’s a lot of travelling involved in this division.

Lovegreen hopes rumours of a restructure at the end of the new season are true.

“If we can get to the stage where the league is made up entirely of North-West clubs, it would be ideal,” he said.

“As things stand at the moment we’ve got so many early starts and long journeys, it doesn’t suit anyone.

“We will keep an eye on the situation but hopefully a sensible conclusion can be reached.”