Oldham promote ex-RFL employee to new role as ambitious rebuild continues

Oldham RLFC look set to be one of the stories of the season as they build an incredible squad in League One, and they’ve now made another impressive off-field hire in appointing Haydn Walker to a full-time director role.

Walker was one of the five men revealed as new owners of the League One side back in March, alongside Mike Ford, Mick Harrington, Gary Kershaw and Simon Winnard.

Back when Ford was coach at the club more than 20 years ago Walker served as his assistant and he’s had plenty more experience within the sport too, but he now takes on a full-time role with the Roughyeds.

Walker was the sole owner not from Oldham, having come from Wigan instead, but his pedigree in the game is mightily impressive and it makes sense that the club who have shown plenty of ambition would bring him on board.

The Roughyeds confirmed Walker’s appointment today via a statement released on their website.

It read: “Oldham RLFC can announce the appointment of director Haydn Walker to a full-time role with the club.

“Haydn brings over forty years’ experience having worked in coaching, development and administration roles over the years.

“He was the assistant boss back when Mike Ford was head coach, during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

“During that time, he also ran the club’s lottery and delivered coaching sessions in local schools.

“After leaving Oldham, he moved to the RFL as a Talent and Coaching Development Manager.

“He has links with Roughyeds boss Sean Long, whom he coached in the all-conquering Wigan Warriors’ academy side.”

It’s another hire that highlights just how well the club are operating off the field, as exemplified by their incredible recruitment this off-season that has seen them bring in a squad surely capable of competing in the Championship.

On his new role, Walker said: “I am truly living the dream at the moment.

“People will not know that Simon Winnard and myself looked to buy the club over a decade ago.

“We had an NRL club interested in buying the club, but unfortunately that never happened.

“However, when Fordy asked me to join him this time, I thought about it for about two seconds and said I was in.”

He confirmed that his role will remain with an off-field focus, looking at how the club can improve under IMG as opposed to donning the boots and coaching alongside Ford as the pair did back in 2000.

“The boots will not be going on this time round,” he added.

“I am really excited by what we are trying to achieve – the club has been a sleeping giant for too long.

“The talent that the community game produces can, and will, see the club play at the highest level.”