Oldham RLFC chairman Bill Quinn has confirmed that he will ‘step aside’ from his role amid off-field issues that he has clarified in a lengthy update published to the club’s social media.
Despite bidding for a spot in Super League for 2026, Oldham RLFC have found themselves embroiled in a number of off-field issues with a winding-up petition recently filed just days after coach and senior figure Mike Ford announced his resignation from the club.
There is also the matter of the dispute between Oldham RLFC and Oldham Athletic Football Club, the latter of whom allow the rugby club to play at Boundary Park.
That dispute has seen Quinn banned from the stadium, something he has now addressed and called ‘unenforceable’, though he has conceded that he will step down to focus on litigation against Oldham Athletic in regards to their allegations against him. That will also allow the rugby club to try and get back to Boundary Park without Quinn acting as a potential roadblock between the two parties.
In a lengthy video published to the club’s social media, Quinn explained first and foremost that statements on every matter cannot always be posted due to what the club can and can’t say.
Bill Quinn steps aside from Oldham RLFC
What he was able to provide an immediate update on was the recent exchanges between Oldham and Oldham Athletic, with Quinn confirming that one of the rugby league club’s directors had met with two Athletic directors in what was reported back to Quinn as a ‘complete waste of time’.
Quinn added: “In fact, they’ve even brought out more allegations against myself which are totally unfounded and untrue.
“Today I have spent two hours talking to our lawyers, I have not contacted or been dealing with Oldham Athletic and trying to comply with a non-enforcable ban that they have put in place.
“It’s now sadly having to go to litigation. We’ve done everything to try and put this right but there is an ulterior motive and we now understand what is going on. Our lawyers will deal with it and we will manage the situation.”
Quinn went on to confirm that he would be ‘stepping to one side’ to allow for smoother running at the top of the club with Quinn focused on legal action against Oldham Athletic and the rugby league club focusing on a return to Boundary Park.
He also confirmed that both clubs still believed the other owed them monies, something he says will now be dealt with through solicitors whilst also issuing a firm stance.
Quinn explained: “We’ve said, whatever their (solicitor’s) findings are, we will stand by that and if we have to pay the monies, we will pay the monies, but we won’t be bullied into paying monies, we won’t be blackmailed into paying monies and you can’t suddenly use a ban on somebody and join it together and try and use it as a lever.
“What I’m doing is step to one side, it won’t effect the running of the club, there’s going to be announcements of people coming in and an announcement on the coach tomorrow.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the club. The club is going to go forward. I’m going to make sure this club goes forward.”
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Message sent to fans as Oldham winding-up petition ‘dismissed’
Quinn then addressed the winding-up petition, stating that it has been ‘dealt with’, adding that it’s been paid and will be ‘dismissed’. He also welcomed a possible Q&A at the club ahead of their weekend’s game where he would field further questions.
After assuring fans that the club’s finances were in check with player’s paid and debts settled, Quinn then laid down a marker to fans, stating: “I hope now that the people of Oldham, the true fans, will come out and support us. If you want a rugby league club and you want us to survive and keep going forward, then you’ve got to do your bit because I’m doing my bit immensely.
“The people who work at Oldham here are doing their bit and working really hard. We’ll overcome these issues and sort these issues but what I would say is that some of the comments made by our so-called fans on social media… it absolutely is disgraceful and I won’t put up with it. I’m going to name and shame these people and they will be banned from future games because we do not want these kind of people at Oldham rugby league.”
Quinn also added that if and when there is a consensus among fans that they want him out, he will go, accepting that mistakes may have been made but that: “From this moment on, things are going to be done right. Everyone is going to know what is going on, things are going to be a lot more transparent.
Chairman Bill Quinn has issued an update to supporters. pic.twitter.com/tT75FlLNV8
— Oldham RLFC (@Roughyeds) February 3, 2026
