Roughyeds must find a new home if promoted

Chris Hamilton at Whitebank... but for how much longer?

CHRIS Hamilton has confirmed promotion for Oldham will prevent the side playing at Whitebank.

The ground doesn’t meet minimum standards for the Kingstone Press Championship.

The Roughyeds chairman said he would prefer to stay there but it would be out of the question: the ground would have to be upgraded by the RFL deadline of October 31.

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester, he added: “Part of my role as club chairman is to make sure that if we earn promotion we are able to accept it. This is not a new process for us because we’ve had to do it a number of times in recent years, so we are doing what we’ve done before.

“We have had to put a number of options to the RFL, but I’m not able to discuss them. Everyone will assume its going to beSportsDirect.com Park, but you never know.”

Meanwhile top try scorer Adam Clay, out of Oldham’s last three games with broken ribs, could make a shock return against his former club Barrow in Sunday’s big game at Whitebank.

Scott Naylor and the club’s medical team will make a final decision on the 19-try winger at training tomorrow.

Clay scored two tries in each of Oldham’s two previous games against Barrow this season.

Naylor said of Clay's prospects: “He’s a possibility, no more than that, but we’re leaving a decision for as long as possible.”

Elliott Liku is out with a shoulder injury and Will Hope, the other deadline-day signing, is likely to be available for the Swinton game on September 6.

Oldham’s prospects of finishing top were enhanced last night when second-placed York were pipped 30-28 at home by North Wales Crusaders.

Naylor said: “In a sense York’s defeat makes it even more important that we carry on winning. We’ve got to grasp every opportunity that comes our way.”