Championship club Oldham have given an update regarding their plans regarding the currently vacant head coach role.
The club remain without a head coach since they decided to part ways with former St Helens and Great Britain half-back, Sean Long, due to a difference of opinion regarding where the club is currently at and where it is headed.
Despite finishing fourth and reaching the Championship semi-final at the first the of asking following their promotion from League One, the club deemed the season to not be at the required standard they initially set out, and so sought out a change in leadership.
The Roughyeds chairman, Bill Quinn, has offered an update regarding who will replace him, and confirmed that the coaching will be done internally, rather than appointing someone from the outside.
Mike Ford, who is the club’s Director of Rugby, will be in charge of the coaching, and will be joined by Callum Irving, who the club announced would be former Huddersfield Giants forward Joe Wardle’s replacement, after he also left the club.
Explaining the decision, Quinn said: “We are very, very fortunate at Oldham, that we’ve got Mike Ford because I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Mike, with the coach he’s brought in, Callum, and he’s talking to other coaches to come in and help him.
“Just to explain the situation and to avoid any confusion, at this moment in time Mike Ford is taking the coaches role. He is the Director of Rugby, but he is doing a fantastic job, we aim to push on this year, and at this moment in time Mike is doing that.”
The club have been very vocal on how they want to progress, with the side clearly outlining their ambitions of wanting to be a Super League team. However, the Roughyeds are willing to trust the current process and allow Ford to try and continue the success he has brought to the club in his two and a half years there.
Quinn continued: “What we don’t need to do is we do not need to panic because we haven’t got a coach, because we don’t. We are so fortunate to have Mike Ford, with his experience and knowledge, at this club. He will do the job.
“I know that some people have said ‘oh well he’s not going to sack himself is he?’ Listen. Mike Ford would be the very first person to jump up if he thought things needed changing.
“Last year, the way he dealt with Sean was fantastic. We all were in many meetings and Mike let the coach, coach. Because that’s what he’s here for. He did a fantastic job with him talking to him and trying to guide him and work with him. He’s a really good guy like that, and I have lots of confidence in everything Mike does.
Oldham aren’t ruling out that a coaching change could be made further down the line, but only if it suits the team.
He said: “If a coach that is right for Oldham becomes available, we will be talking to them. But, at this moment in time, we’ve got who we feel is the best that’s out there at this moment for Oldham.”
The club’s season, as it stands, is due to get underway on January 17 against Salford Red Devils, however due to their liquidation earlier this week, it remains to be seen if a phoenix club can set up in that time, and if it is, whether it will alter the fixtures, due to them technically going from the highest ranked second tier side, to the lowest ranked.
