Crompton out at Rangers

RUGBY:

MARTIN Crompton has resigned as coach of Saddleworth Rangers — before even taking charge of his first game.

The former Oldham Bears captain, recently rated as one of the most promising coaches in the game, caused quite a stir when it was announced in late June he was to take the helm at the Greenfield club.

But on the eve of the first National Conference League Interim game of the season at Siddal on Saturday, the ex-Blackpool coach decided to call it quits, leaving number two Emerson Jackman in his place.

"It was a good idea that just didn't work out and it all ended on good terms," explained Rangers chairman Terry Flanagan, who coached Crompton when in charge of the Ireland national team of the mid-1990s.

"We couldn't get the training schedule to work. We knew Martin has commitments on Tuesdays and Thursdays and so switched training around that.

"In the end, we just couldn't get the coach together at the same time as the players."

Rangers old boy Terry Hester is to assist Jackman in his coaching duties.

While he can call on former St Helens and Oldham Roughyeds man Jack Bradbury and ex-Bradford and Dewsbury Jonny Horton, Rangers have lost a number of players this summer.

Danny Earley and Carl Fields have joined St Anne's and Danny Adams has moved to play in Australia.




STANDARD Cup holders Saddleworth Rangers will have to go an extra step to keep hold of the trophy for a third consecutive season.



The Greenfield side, who defeated Folly Lane 62-12 in the traditional Good Friday final earlier this year, take on visitors Hollinwood in a preliminary-round tie — a fixture necessary as a result of nine clubs entering the competition.

The winners of that clash will travel to take on Swinton outfit Folly Lane in the quarter-finals of the Oldham Amateur League's main event.

Standard Cup 2012 draw — Preliminary round: Saddleworth Rangers v Hollinwood.

Quarter-finals: Folly Lane v Saddleworth Rangers or Hollinwood; Rochdale Mayfield v Higginshaw; Fitton Hill & Hathershaw v Oldham St Anne's; Waterhead v Rochdale Cobras. All dates and kick-off times TBA.