Geener relishing role at Rangers

Photo: Picture by DARREN ROBINSON.

THREE AMIGOS: (l-r) Paul Geener, Shane Wilson (chairman) and Craig Farrimond.

RUGBY: 

AFTER coming to terms with the “hardest” rugby league decision he has made, Paul Geener is eager to get stuck into his new role.

One of the most familiar faces on the local scene, Geener has been appointed joint coach of Saddleworth Rangers. He will work with former Oldham RL, Rochdale and Swinton prop Craig Farrimond, who was in charge last season.

Geener enjoyed a lot of success at Waterhead both as player and coach. Though he stepped down from first-team duties, the club remains dear to him.

The call then to swap Waterhead Park for Shaw Hall Bank Road wasn’t easy.

“It was awful,” said Geener. “Apart from when I was an under-17 at Saddleworth Rangers, I’ve spent all my rugby life at Waterhead. That’s 23 years, and I love the place, I really do..

“It’s the hardest decision I’ve made, but there comes a time when you have to move on. I thought about it for about a month, but it is an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

“Craig Farrimond and I are putting plans in place for next year. We want to turn Saddleworth Rangers around and put them at the top of the division again.”