Quinn waits for Hamilton verdict

ROUGHYEDS majority shareholder Bill Quinn says the ball is in Chris Hamilton’s court to move the situation at the club forward.

The owner of a 75-per-cent stake in Oldham Rugby League Football Club (1997) Ltd told the Chronicle that he has so far put forward three separate proposals to the club’s chief executive, detailing the conditions under which he would be prepared to hand over the entirety of his shares.

Quinn said that while the first two scenarios were deemed unacceptable by Hamilton — owner of the other 25-per-cent of the club — he is currently waiting for an answer on the last of them. The two men will continue to talk this week in an attempt to thrash out a deal.

“The delay is nothing to do with me and Chris has to be happy with the deal,” said Quinn.
“These things take time, but hopefully the rewards will be what is best for the club.

“I want people to know that I haven’t fallen out with the club, even though lots of things have gone on and a lot has been said.

“I want the club to become part of the community and to belong to the fans.

“Hopefully something can be arranged in the next couple of days as it is very important things are tied up sooner rather than later.”

To complicate matters, while Quinn says he has no objection in principle to selling to Hamilton — provided such a deal is, in his words, “in the best interests of the club” — he does not at this stage wish to comment on rumours that a group of investors have been sounded out about becoming involved.

Terry Flanagan yesterday denied rumours of his involvement in a potential take-over of the club by a consortium.

Time is of the essence for the Roughyeds. With pre-season training now only four weeks away, the club currently has no coach and no players under contract for the 2010 season.