Sheridan signs new deal at Oldham

Date published: 05 September 2020


Brendan Sheridan has signed a new contract to stay at Oldham as coach Matt Diskin's No 2 - and he has since revealed why Roughyeds are investing in a bigger pack.

Three of the club's four new signings so far - those of Tyler Dupree, Luke Nelmes and Martyn Reilly - are designed to put more "biff" into the front row.

Said Sheridan (41), brother of Castleford Tigers assistant boss Ryan Sheridan: "We needed to strengthen the forwards and that's what we're doing."

He was only six games into his first pro coaching job when, back in March, COVID-19 ended Championship and League 1 rugby until 2021.

Said Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton: "To keep Brendan on was a no-brainer.

"His enthusiasm rubs off, as our players will confirm, and we are all looking forward to having him back.

"It was a big opportunity for him when he came into the pro game, but his first season was curtailed by the pandemic and few suffered more than Brendan because of the virus."

Head coach Diskin also spoke in glowing terms of the former Dewsbury Celtic boss - a man steeped in rugby league, particularly at community level in the rugby-mad Heavy Woollen area of West Yorkshire.

Said Diskin, the former Leeds Rhinos ace: "I've always thought highly of Brendan.

"That's why we took him out of the amateur game last year.

"He's a talented young coach, astute and efficient and he adapted easily to the demands of the job at Championship level."

At the height of the pandemic, 'Shez' suffered a serious attack from coronavirus and spent two weeks in a coma, but happily he is on the mend now and back coaching youngsters.

Sheridan said: "We learned a lot from our five Championship games before the lockdown (one win, four defeats). Next time, we have to hit the ground running.

"From day one, we've got to be match hard and ready to go.  

"By strengthening the forwards, it will take some pressure off the other lads; provide more competition; and generally give us a better chance of doing well."


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