167 replies to this topic

[thecrab]

Hi Oldhamer,

On the U23's, Scholarship etc I agree we should be proud of setting up this conveyor belt and yes quite often you get better entertainment watching these instead of the 1st team.

Just one point on the ground issue though.

I totally agree that we have been rogered by the Council on this one. I doubt anyone could have done much better than CH and his efforts should not be forgotten.
However, I would level some criticism at CH in not setting up a ground fund.
Sheddings69 hit a superb point in "do you still feel like a roughyed?" and i think most would agree that the answer is a resounding "no".
Here is an opportunity for CH to share the load and make people feel a part of the club by creating some sort of ground fund and organising improvements.
Again, he chooses to isolate himself and nothing has been done.
I'm also fairly sure RO offered to contribute towards the ground but got no response. Why turn that help away? How can that decision be justified when we have very little income?

The crux of the problem is we have fans staying away because of CH, we have sponsors staying away because of CH and we have organisations offering help and support being ignored because of CH.
And this is getting worse by the week with people throwing the towel in saying they've seen enough.
The only way to resolve this is to remove the common denominator, CH.

[oldhamer]

If, and that's a big IF. CH stepped down, and another party got involved, what could change that would propel the club forward?
No amount of money at this present moment in time would change Whitebank, as I guess it's a planning nightmare to try and develop the ground successfully without a long drawn out consultancy period. And I agree, it's a white elephant that the council couldn't wait to pass on. How ironic would it be if Oldham Town got a ground developed by the council??

Money would change the squad granted, but again, could be costly long term.
I do think there should be a change, or shake up somewhere, but again, I cannot see where.
With people wanting TB to go, it's a good job he stuck by the club and team a few years back when it did go to pot literally over night.

Edited by oldhamer, 27 June 2012 - 01:14 PM.

[Mad Mal the Mauler]

Funding for a reserve/U23's should be assisted by the RFL if they are really interested in developing Rugby League outside the top flight! ALL Championship and Championship 1 clubs should HAVE to provide that level to bring in the more talented amateurs and younger lads in the lower league semi pro game which for some could lead to Super League and maybe another Sam Tomkins type find for the National side?

[oldhamer]

Exactly. The reason why we are failing as a sport at International level.

[thecrab]

If, and that's a big IF. CH stepped down, and another party got involved, what could change that would propel the club forward?

I would hope that anyone staying away because of CH would consider returning.
If operated correctly and communicated professionally I think there would be a lot of support.
It still wouldn't get us out of the mess we're in but i think we could have more money at our disposal.....
.....and equally as important the "feel like a roughyed" factor would hopefully return.

[oldhamer]

How many professional clubs talk openly to the fans? Speaking to friends that are supporters of many clubs, they have similar experiences of a clubs reluctance to engage its supporters.

[RunItOffAfi]

Interesting that some of the pro Hamilton disciples talk of the money he's invested in the club and the anti brigade talk about the £70k+ salary he's on and yet no one can prove either of these, as the finances of the club are so secretive they're probably subject to the 30 year disclosure rule!

The only facts are that this team is sinking like a stone and the club is harmorrhaging speccies at an alarming rate, which, if it carries on, could be fatal.

I don't believe that Hamilton will ever give up his club voluntarily (he thought it more important to secure the ownership in the autumn of 2010 than to recruit players for the following season), so what can we hope for? For all those with the future well being of the club at heart, we may have to take a massive step backwards to finally start moving forwards. My hope and wish is that Hamilton's club receives a tax bill from HMRC that cannot be paid and has to go into administration. To that end, if that means we would need to lose most of our games between now and the end of the season, and crowds would plummet to previously unheard of levels, then that is a price I am willing to pay to get rid of the current regime, who are leading this club into oblivion. Then we start afresh. I know some have mentioned that the RFL may not have us back, but I can't see that, given the massive strength of the amateur game in the town.

Has anyone any other ideas, other than the stick with the club and get behind the lads charity appeal, which clearly isn't working.

I have supported Oldham for over 50 years, but this season is the most painful ever, and my enthusiasm for the club and team have disappeared. I now attend matches only because I'm a season ticket holder, and that will not continue next season without major changes at the club.

Edited by RunItOffAfi, 27 June 2012 - 05:42 PM.

[eclecticsheep]

Good post....

I don't believe that Hamilton will ever give up his club voluntarily (he thought it more important to secure the ownership in the autumn of 2010 than to recruit players for the following season), so what can we hope for? For all those with the future well being of the club at heart, we may have to take a massive step backwards to finally start moving forwards. My hope and wish is that Hamilton's club receives a tax bill from HMRC that cannot be paid and has to go into administration. To that end, if that means we would need to lose most of our games between now and the end of the season, and crowds would plummet to previously unheard of levels, then that is a price I am willing to pay to get rid of the current regime, who are leading this club into oblivion. Then we start afresh. I know some have mentioned that the RFL may not have us back, but I can't see that, given the massive strength of the amateur game in the town...

I have no confidence in this current regimes ability to either get the ground to minimum standards any time soon nor to change the ethos and attitude to the dwindling fanbase. Nor do I plan to spend any more of my money on the current regime.

[exiledyed]

In the current recession climate ,supporters and sponsors are having to re-think their budgets and supporters are not going to return to watching the team and fund Mr Hamilton ,and what do the sponsors get in return , prime tickets for them and their clients in the executive box at Whitebank ! I have a good friend who used to sponsor the team (for two seasons ) ,but told me he would not put another penny in to the club whilst that guy is in charge . He wouldn't divulge why but its obvious that he is another sponsor in a long alienated list .

[ruffyed]

He wouldn't divulge why but its obvious that he is another sponsor in a long alienated list .

For the record I am neither pro nor anti CH . I have never spoken to him nor do I wish to .... I simply happen to support ORLFC and couldn't give a flying function who the CEO of the club is . But this kind of comment baffles me ... I wish I had a pound for every time i have read about CH alienating all and sundry but perhaps with the exception of RO ,there always seems to be a wall of silence from the people he is supposed to have alienated ( something CH is roundly criticised for ) . I'm not saying it doesn't happen but if he has treated sponsors so badly that they walk away why don't they go public giving chapter and verse what CH did to offend them ... I know I would . Players have also come and gone but I can't recall any of them having a go at CH either . ..so can someone enlighten me what it is about the guy that causes such animosity towards him yet no-one seems willing to go public about their experiences .

[Roughyedz]

Roughyedz. Some great decisions.

1) To have a permanant home since Watersheddings - yes Whitebank is....Whitebank, but it's a home for the time being. And that isn't CH fault that the club in 1997 had no ground or no assets.
2) To run an Under 23s with limited funding.
3) To run an extended scholarship with very little funding.
4) To enage a better working relationship with the amateur clubs and service area.

To me, they are major plus points for Oldham RLFC.

To name a few.............

And now Roughyedz, over to you. Post some actual FACTS about other parties who were ready to start in 1997 before, as you put it, CH got in first. But its the same stories as usual " I know someone, who knew a man etc etc."

I can not argue with you here you are correct on every point ,,,,,,,,,,,BUT ...its taken 13 or however many years to get to this point ............20 orr 300 speccies ............... I will leave it to you to guess where we will be in ANOTHER 13 YEARS ............... No Prizes

[oldhamer]

Yes it has taken us 13 years to get to that point, with hardly any funding. Do you know that SL sides get a nice sized wedge of cash for operating a similar structure? Oldham don't.
When Oldham first formed, the priority and business plan I guess was to sustain survival for a couple of seasons. That they did, and tried to build on each year, which was achieved in 2001, with being a whisker away from a return to the top flight. From then on, the performances have been a little up and down. But the club has always gone through these phases and come back stronger. Who helped us survive when Latics did all they can to destroy the club by taking away our head coach, and then bumping up the rent to a level that was nothing more than robbery? CH steered the club through a very choppy time, again, without much praise.

CH helped start a club, with not even a set of cones to clubs inventory, and no structure in place. That wasn't his fault, nor was the fact that the club had no firm foundations. The club now has that solid base to build, and it needs time for everything to fall into place. Set backs and disapointments happen, but you either roll your sleeves up and get on with it, or you quit. The latter is becoming the norm in this town these days.

[sheddings69]

Yes it has taken us 13 years to get to that point, with hardly any funding. Do you know that SL sides get a nice sized wedge of cash for operating a similar structure? Oldham don't.
When Oldham first formed, the priority and business plan I guess was to sustain survival for a couple of seasons. That they did, and tried to build on each year, which was achieved in 2001, with being a whisker away from a return to the top flight. From then on, the performances have been a little up and down. But the club has always gone through these phases and come back stronger. Who helped us survive when Latics did all they can to destroy the club by taking away our head coach, and then bumping up the rent to a level that was nothing more than robbery? CH steered the club through a very choppy time, again, without much praise.

CH helped start a club, with not even a set of cones to clubs inventory, and no structure in place. That wasn't his fault, nor was the fact that the club had no firm foundations. The club now has that solid base to build, and it needs time for everything to fall into place. Set backs and disapointments happen, but you either roll your sleeves up and get on with it, or you quit. The latter is becoming the norm in this town these days.

I love your passion and belief Oldhamer - I really do wish I still felt like that. However, I can't see anything that points to club dealing with setbacks (there have been many) and coming back stronger. Has there been a very sad and steady decline or has it taken 15 years to build 'solid foundations'? Do we have to wait another 15 years for as you say 'it needs time for everything to fall in pace'? Has CH steered the club through choppy waters or driven us straight into them? I don't pretend to have the answers, I just care enough to ask the questions.

Edited by sheddings69, 28 June 2012 - 08:00 AM.

[oldhamer]

Some good point there Sheddings, and I am sure that the club have sometimes made the wrong decisions albeit not intentionally. In all my time involved with rugby league, the year that we had Quinngate, I have never witnessed a passion, spirit and love for the club like I witnessed after we beat York at York in the playoffs. If you could of bottled it, you would of made a fortune. It's moments like that which make our club special, and as Oldham supporters pre and post 1997 have had to endure more setbacks and disapointments than we care to imagine. Is there a clear and defined answer that would sort out the situation we are in at present? I honestly don't know, but I am sure that everyone at the club whether it be CH,TB or the players are searching to the very far corners of their mind, to come up with a solution. For me, we need to find that passion, love and desire we had at York, and moreso, belief! Every game is now a cup final, and with the addition of Foxen, Rats back in action, Dally in at 7, and the return on Smith & Noone in back three - its going back to the strongest team we can put out.

Edited by oldhamer, 28 June 2012 - 08:29 AM.

[Tony Mac]

I've waited some time before posting on this thread as I wanted to think through fully what I was going to write following our game on Sunday against our neighbours. We had senior players galore back in the team which had me believing that this was going to be the start of our climbing back up the league. That belief was shattered following the first 40 minutes. I can accept being beaten by better, bigger or faster teams providing the team plays to their best. In the season when we came down without winning a game we still showed a never say die attitude in most games and the players, on the whole, played as well as they could do, they just weren't good enough. On Sunday we looked like a team with a distinct lack of confidence, no belief at all that they could produce a win and no motivation at all on show. The job of motivating the team, giving them belief and building confidence is down to the coach and on Sunday the coach failed. And I have to say that this has been the case more than once this season. And so it is with some regret that I believe that now is the time for change. I think a change of coach may well bring a change in play and playing staff and this in itself should help with the belief and motivation. But it has to be done quickly. I think it is probably too late to salvage this season but even so, get the right type of coach in, and even if they can't do it this season it would get things in place for next season. TB has been very good to us and he is a very nice and sincere bloke but I think we need something more now.

Tony Mac
Chin Up, Chest Out

[Robthegardener.]

I've waited some time before posting on this thread as I wanted to think through fully what I was going to write following our game on Sunday against our neighbours. We had senior players galore back in the team which had me believing that this was going to be the start of our climbing back up the league. That belief was shattered following the first 40 minutes. I can accept being beaten by better, bigger or faster teams providing the team plays to their best. In the season when we came down without winning a game we still showed a never say die attitude in most games and the players, on the whole, played as well as they could do, they just weren't good enough. On Sunday we looked like a team with a distinct lack of confidence, no belief at all that they could produce a win and no motivation at all on show. The job of motivating the team, giving them belief and building confidence is down to the coach and on Sunday the coach failed. And I have to say that this has been the case more than once this season. And so it is with some regret that I believe that now is the time for change. I think a change of coach may well bring a change in play and playing staff and this in itself should help with the belief and motivation. But it has to be done quickly. I think it is probably too late to salvage this season but even so, get the right type of coach in, and even if they can't do it this season it would get things in place for next season. TB has been very good to us and he is a very nice and sincere bloke but I think we need something more now.

Tony Mac
Chin Up, Chest Out

Seconded,nice to see you againTony!

[winedrinkerme]

i have to agree with that tony the year we lost every game the players played there hearts out and the away support was 2nd to none and we enjoyed every minute of it but now with this coach sorry he's not a coach. sooner he goes the better what has god (hamelton ) had to say as he does not seem bothered what happens to OLDHAM RLFC

[barrowbob]

Some good points there crab. One thing always stands out for me and thats the "I am not going because...." brigade. People will always find excuses for not supporting the team. If I have heard the saying, "I am not going whilst CH is in charge" then the Nou Camp wouldn't be big enough for Oldham RLFC. Things are stale at present, but I am sure we have enough in house to get out of it. Management has been poor at times, granted. But also some great decisions that go without praise.

we had people at Barrow who wouldn't go whils des johnson was in charge, surprisingly, they still dont go!

calland and his country mile is probably not the best way, save your money and put someone like Noone in charge

[oldhamer]

Exactly my sentiments Bob. No matter who is at the helm, the stayaways will always be.....stayaways. I have heard every excuse known to man. The best ever was "I am not coming watching anymore because they don't play in red and white hoops". Those people will always find an excuse not to come.

For me, if you can't be bothered coming to support a club on matchdays because of excuse x,y and z, then your opinion on anything to do with the team, club or individuals means nothing.

Edited by oldhamer, 29 June 2012 - 10:13 AM.

[dave the chickhen]

oldhamer carol and i have just joined the stayaways after 60 years it breaks my heart to see how low the club has sunk. it used to be the highlight of the week going to a game now its become a depressing chore. if tere is a change in playing and coaching standards next year we will be back. hope fully work will soon start on the grond to make returning more attractive to the stayaways. blackie