Chance to check out the new signings
OLDHAM fans will get their first glimpse of many new signings in Sunday’s Law Cup clash with derby rivals Rochdale Hornets at the Crown Oil Arena.
The new-look squad currently numbers 21, ten of whom have been snapped up during the off-season to replace those who left the club at the end of the 2017 campaign – which resulted in relegation back to League One after two seasons in the Kingstone Press Championship.
That meant a hugely significant decrease in central funding, but it hasn’t stopped chairman, Chris Hamilton, and head coach, Scott Naylor, getting their heads together to come up with a squad they believe will be strong enough to mount a realistic challenge for promotion at the first attempt.
New boys are forwards Luke Nelmes, from Halifax, Adam Jones (Swinton), Liam Bent (Salford) and Danny Bridge (Redcliffe Dolphins, Australia), and backs Paul Crook (Rochdale), Danny Rasool (Warrington), Kyran Johnson (Feathersstone), Dave Ecclerston (St Helens), Matt Reid (Coventry) and Jack Holmes (Rochdale).
Roughyeds believe they will be particularly strong in the forwards – and they expect the pack to lay down a solid foundation for success and provide the momentum that the experienced Crook will need to direct operations from stand-off half.
The six former Roughyeds in a provisional Rochdale squad are Lewis Palfrey, Miles Greenwood, David Allen, Luke Adamson, Richard Lepori and Gary Middlehurst.
Comparisons between Palfrey and Crook will be inevitable, given that the former – an Oldham captain for four years – replaced Crook in the Rochdale side of 2017 .
Crook was away from the local derby scene last year, playing instead for Whitehaven, but Palfrey was a mainstay half-back for Rochdale and looks like retaining his partnership with Danny Yates in the coming Championship campaign.