167 replies to this topic

[beacs]

I will Keep it simple , Please reply to this petition if you want Tony Benson removed as Coach and Replaced by Matt Calland

[gaz the roughyed]

Yes

[Raff]

simples - yes

[thecrab]

Why would Calland come as coach?
TB does the job for buttons n im sure theres no way Calland would come for the same money

[allroughyed]

I'm not sure I'd want to replace Benson with calland after what I've heard about him this afternoon. Anyway, what's the point now, promotion is out the window. So there is nothing to play for now. For me, I think its the end after 23years of continued home and away support. At the moment I just can't raise the enthusiasm to see a season out with nothing to play for.

[beacs]

Calland i a decent guy and a damn good coach , his record says it all , he s not interested in money just to get back in game and get Oldham promoted . Simples !!

[chiefgeneral]

I'd rather have Martin Crompton

[knockon]

Graham Holroyd...he's been there, got one of the best rugby brains around - cant believe they don't need him

[donquixote]

Matt Calland has a proven track record. Halifax under Calland were the most attractive team to watch in the entire Rugby League and his work at Hopwood Hall has been fantastic.
No brainer for me!

[winedrinkerme]

anybody instead of benson would be an improvemant

[sheddings69]

Completely agree we need a complete change in direction but don't think there enough of us left to get together a meaningful petition.

[Shaw Lad]

Hamilton would never employ Matt Calland as he's not a yes man.

[Roughyeds Return]

At the end of the last 2 seasons I have posted that Benson should go - only for the usual suspects to come out and tell us what a great bloke he is. He may be, but the evidence is as a coach he is garbage.

I'm done with the club until there are changes.

[oldhamer]

Having refrained to comment for the past few days, as to let the dust settle, and to not go off at a tangent to the real problem Oldham RLFC are going through at present. Personally, do I feel there is a need for change? And if there was a change, would that benefit Oldham RLFC? That is up for debate, as I am in two minds on what would work best for the team and club in general. The problems that ORLFC are facing are typical of most clubs outside the top flight, and its more of 'game' problem than just a club issue.

It's know secret that Oldham have 'under performed' this season, and I am sure the players realise it as well. As a player, at no time do they cross that whitewash with the mentality of 'losing' or performing badly', but losing can become a bit of a habit, as past results show. That circle of failure needs to be broken, and whether it's a change of coach, or more simply a change in direction, could be the key to kick start our season. The team are in dire need of a lift, whether on or off the field, what they do not need is constant, inane critism all the time.

One moment this season (and there have been many!) will stick in the memory for me that sums the mentality of the situation up that we are in. When Gillam made his long awaited return at home, bearing in mind his outstanding contribution before his injury - which in fairness was a horrific one. A fan verbally slagged his performance off from the terrace whilst in play and after the game. How constructive is that?

Nobody with any sense would of thought this season would be a stroll in the park, as the likes of Doncaster, Oldham, Workington, Barrow, Whitehaven, Rochdale and the unknown quantity, North Wales all pursuing a top four spot. 7 teams into 4 places doesn't go, three had to give. Competition, its what all the divsions want isn't it? Throw into the mix the major injury problems that have hindered the first team, and subsequently hampered Ashys plans in the reserves, and you have a recipe for a very difficult campaign - a unsettled first team, through mix and match players, and a reserve side not firing on all cylinders to push for places in top team - and for me that's where the problems have stemmed from. Since the first three/four games of thes season, have we fielded our strongest, and consistant side since those games? No. Maybe, just maybe, we have been unlucky so far this season.

To throw a different light on the situation. Who is doing more damage to the club?
The chairman who is trying to keep the ship afloat during a storm, with no lifeboats on standby?
The coach who is trying everythig he can to change things with a limited budget that allows the business to keep going?
Or finally the supporters who refuse to go and support the club and deny the club income?

No doubt, we will have the usual pro RugbyOldham postings on here, but here's the question. What would make them better at running Oldham RLFC than the current regime? Where are their credentials, history? Other than they are a group of 'good' honest' people.

Is the season over for us? I don't feel it is, but every game will become a cup final. 6 points separate us from fourth spot with 8 games left. Win all eight (a massive ask), and deny Haven/Town a bonus point and who knows. Yes, it's mission impossible, but stranger things have happened.

Just one more thing. Oldham RLFC are a proffesional RL club in our town, irrespective of who is coach, or who runs the club. The Bears went under without a whimper of support from the fans, don't let the same happen here. Staying away is the same of hammering the nail into the coffin, either support the club or we could lose it forever. Look at Bradfords situation to see that the game as a whole is struggling, it's not just us. If I was a betting man, Huddersfield will be next. Say what you want about CH, but we have never entered into Adminstration unlike some clubs.
There is always speculation that he is on a huge salary? Where is the proof that he is? He may draw a wage from the club, but should he work full time for nothing??? Would you?


The game is struggling through poor decision making through the RFL and SL, and even if Oldham RLFC had Dickie Branson as CEO, our problems would still remain.

Edited by oldhamer, 26 June 2012 - 03:28 PM.

[oldham13]

Here Here Oldhamer well said!

[TOSH1960]

_{Good stuff Oldhamer.}

[ruffyed]

Got to agree with most of your views Oldhamer .I honestly thought that when we could put out a full strength side again we could start to turn around our form and get back to winning ways but after the debacle against Rochdale I can't see where our next win is coming from . Tbh the way we are playing it wouldn't surprise me if we don't win another game this season and that includes Gateshead .However unlike some this gives me no pleasure saying this. Being realistic promotion is at best highly unlikely , miracles apart , and so many supporters will take the view that the season is effectively over .The attendance figures have already been falling year on year but I think there is a very real possibility that the figures could nosedive and it wouldn't surprise me if there is less than 200 against Skolars , particularly if we get beaten heavily at Whitehaven. Clearly these numbers are nowhere near enough to support professional RL in the town and maybe the CH haters will get their way as the already substantial debts will quickly grow and whether CH wants to go or not there may be no choice as the club would be heading for administration again . This started me thinking what would the future be for pro RL in the town . If it is to continue there are 2 options imo .... the club in its present format could be bought and taken over by new owners or a completely new club ORLFC 2012 could be formed with the old club being wound up.However I see problems with both scenarios . If the club is to continue in its present format we must assume that there is someone out there like a BQ who can afford to take over the club . Unless anyone knows anything to the contrary I can't see this happening as the existing debts and the ground problems would also need to be taken on so it will need to be someone with deep pockets . Any suggestions ? Can't see BQ wanting to get his fingers burnt again and I am not aware of any other names in the frame . So maybe we are looking at the formation of a new club run on similar lines to Hornets perhaps...or are we . To get the new club up and running would firstly require the approval of the RFL and as this would be the 2nd time that this had been put to them it is far from certain that they would give their approval this time ... even if they did agree in principle to allow the new club to continue in Championship 1 would they allow them to continue playing at Whitebank as we know that this does not meet their minimum standards and any dispensation they have given the old club may not be extended to the new club . Could a co-operative possibly under the auspices of Rugby Oldham afford the required ground improvements ....once again I doubt this . Playing out of town at another venue may be an option but from past experiences we know this is far from ideal . The only conclusion I can draw from this is that both options have more than their fair share of problems and pitfalls and so I can't help but think that neither will happen and so pro RL may well come to an end in this town , as hard as that is to contemplate .I may be being overly pessimistic about our future prospects if CH jumps ship or we go into administration but if anyone can convince me otherwise I would be glad to hear their views .

[HARRYRUBY]

People go on about the missing fans say where are they and why dont they support the club.

But how many of the fans who watched that first game at Rochdale when the club re started are no longer with us.

Unless the club try to attract new fans it will slowly die as people have said.

Look at the fans that go on a regular basis and consider their ages. Many have been around for a long time with more years behind them than in front of them. Rugby league is not attracting the fans like it used to do unless you are in SL or one of the top clubs in the championship who have enough fans to make the clubs viable.

All clubs have to market themeselves to get support from various sources to create a platform on which to build.

Where is our Marketing strategy. You need to go out and find the support and not just expect people to come to you.

The club needs to be more transparent with the people they want to support them

When the supporters ask a question they need an answer.

Players leave and its never reported. Lotteries are set up and stop without any explanation.

Sponsors are forever changing with a lot of good ones suddenly leaving not to be seen again.

Oldham RLFC is a part time professional rugby league team that needs to be marketed and run with more transparancy rather than more of a secret society.

Edited by HARRYRUBY, 26 June 2012 - 05:39 PM.

[cassandra]

To Oldhamer: in1997 where were CH's credentials, experience and know-how? Things are no different now.

To ruffyed: 'haters' is a very strong word and inappropriate. You don't have to 'hate' anyone to question their record and judgement.

To CH defenders: I admire your loyalty but just as a Coach can lose the dressing room a Chairman can lose the fans. I would say from postings on here and declining attendances that the fan base is evaporating at a rate of knots.

To all those still interested in pro rugby in Oldham: we lost Watersheddings with barely a whimper so it's right now to keep complaining (not much else to be done unless you have a pot of gold) so everyone knows we are not satisfied with the current situation.

It would be a big help if our local paper had the guts to reflect the discontent instead of being a mouthpiece for the club because the Chronicle is just as culpable by neglect as anyone.

THINGS CAN'T GO ON AS THEY ARE!

[oldhamer]

In 1997 we had no other option. CH was the only option that came forward, so it had to be tried.