Oldham chairman Bill Quinn has released a message to fans on social media following criticism of the club’s switch to Friday night games.
The Championship fixtures were released on Tuesday, with Oldham due to open the 2026 campaign with against Salford Red Devils on January 16. Of course, given Salford’s uncertain financial situation and the HMRC hearing which will take place later today, there is a degree of doubt about that fixture.
That away fixture is scheduled be played on a Friday night, with Oldham playing most of their home games on Friday’s too. That wasn’t universally popular with fans, though, and since the release, Oldham have moved a couple of games, one in April and one in July, back to a Sunday in a bid to appease those who were unhappy.
However, the reaction to the schedule release prompted Quinn to record a video message to explain the switch from Sunday afternoons, with the growth of the club at the heart of the change. The chairman made the point that the club have seen a rise in attendances on Friday nights before outlining his belief that the change is in the best interests of the club.
Oldham chairman speaks out after Championship fixture release
“What we’ve tried to do is think about everybody,” he said in a video posted on social media. “Some people will say there’s only two Sundays, but that’s how it’s worked out. We want every hardcore fan that’s followed us, not just for the last two years, that’s followed us forever and we do appreciate what everyone does.
“But if you want this club to move forward and you want this club to put the best team out there and to give the best everything… for Oldham to become a Super League club, a club that’s there in the community, the pathways, we have the women’s team, all of this comes at a huge cost.
“You can’t just keep thinking that Bill Quinn and the board will come up with the money all the time. We’ve even had some of the sponsors straight away onto us about Friday nights. I’m sorry, but we’re not here to upset anyway or cause anyone stress or inconvenience, but what we are here for is to run a club, try and do the best we can for everybody which ultimately is impossible, but you can be assured that everything we do, we do it for the best of Oldham Rugby League Football Club and we will continue to do that.
Chairman Bill Quinn issued an to update supporters, following the release of the club’s 2026 fixtures. pic.twitter.com/38dxNRQw0Y
— Oldham RLFC (@Roughyeds) December 2, 2025
“If somebody thinks they can do it better, I’ve told you this once before, come and see me, come and talk to me, come and tell me how wrong we are, come and tell me how bad we are. This is why you end up with people not communicating or being transparent because we’re not here to be abused and neither is the staff. We’re here to do our best and what I would to everyone is please have an open view of this and please look that the Friday night’s just might be fantastic.
“I know it’s inconvenient going from work, but my family has that inconvenience and so do a lot of others, players’ family, players work. Sometimes we have to adjust and sacrifice, just like we have. We’ve sacrificed our family life, everything, to try and get Oldham rugby league off the ground and to become a force again in rugby and to become sustainable financially to go back into the community, work with everyone and prosper. We need the backing of everybody.”
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