Benson: I want to stay

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson has been given the thumbs-up to continue in his role next season despite the club’s off-field uncertainty.

After watching Oldham lose 28-26 to Keighley in the Co-operative Championship One play-off final, Benson said in his post-match press conference that he would relish the chance to stay on for another crack at promotion, and that the powers-that-be at the club viewed such a proposal favourably.

However, the Kiwi boss also fears that if the ownership situation concerning majority shareholder Bill Quinn and chief executive Chris Hamilton isn’t resolved quickly, the chances of success next year will continue to dwindle.

“As far as the team goes we are in a difficult situation because I don’t know where I am and none of the players know whether they are wanted or not,” said Benson, who is believed to have already lost the services of captain Tommy Goulden to Leigh, Thomas Coyle to Widnes and Luke Menzies to Dewsbury for next year.

“So I guess any coach sitting out there with his notebook out will be deciding who he wants to pick up and the longer we leave it, the more it will be us just left with the scraps.

“I was given a two-year deal with the second based on promotion, or a situation outside my control, which we managed quite well considering.

“Bill (Quinn) did ’phone me to say he wanted me here and Chris (Hamilton) has said it all along. I think the players do too.

“My goal was to build this team as best I could this year and grow on that next year.

“Whether it was in the Championship or Championship One, it is the same plan.

“I would give anything to have the bulk of those guys together again so that all the hard work and hours we have put in this year don’t go to waste.

“If we can build on what we have, we will be a pretty hard team to beat next year.”

Speaking to the Chronicle after the game, Quinn said that while he has kept quiet on the situation of late, he should be in a position to put forward his point of view in a couple of weeks’ time.

Meanwhile, Mr Hamilton saluted the players for their efforts against Keighley.

Mr Hamilton said: “We could have won if we had shown a bit more composure in the first half, but I can’t fault the players for their determination and commitment.”