Oldham RLFC will face the courts next week, after the Championship club been handed a winding-up petition – despite their claims that there are no financial problems within the club.
The club were given the petition on December 16, though it was quickly swept under the carpet by the club’s higher up’s.
A statement at the time claimed: “The order relates to a historic debt of which the club was previously unaware. This matter has now been resolved, and the petition will be dismissed.”
However, it seems as though what the Roughyeds were intending to happen, didn’t come to fruition, with the club set to face the courts on February 11.
The club’s orders can be seen on The Gazette an official record whereby orders can be made available to the public.
However, as they did back in December, Oldham have again denied any sort of claim that the club are under financial pressure, and the club remain stable on the monetary front.
In a statement posted earlier this week, which also confirmed the exit of Mike Ford, they said: “…we would like to re-iterate that the club remains in a strong financial position and rumours to the contrary are totally false.”
“Oldham RLFC will continue its upward trajectory and is looking forward to a strong and successful future.”
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Championship side served winding-up petition with court date set
The news of Oldham’s potential decline comes at a time where rugby league is already mourning the loss of Featherstone Rovers.
The Championship club were refused approval into the second tier competition this season after they were served their marching orders from the courts over winter.
There have been reports of a phoenix club looking to take over at Post Office Road, with former boss Paul Cooke part of the consortium, but it again highlights the financial problems in the UK’s second tier.
Since the Roughyeds crashed out of the Championship play-offs at the end of last season, the club have struggled both on and off the field.
Sean Long and Joe Wardle both departed the coaching staff, meaning that Director of Rugby took the reigns. Thar was before the club’s trip to Benidorm was cancelled, where they were going to take on Castleford Tigers in a pre-season friendly.
Director of Rugby Ford left the club earlier this week, after handing in his resignation on January 8, and now they have a winding-up order to deal with.
The club are also in a dispute with football club Oldham Athletic over the agreements in the usage of Boundary Park, though the club hope to see a resolution to that matter sooner rather than later.
