Naylor hails ‘great addition’

Photo: Picture by Anthony Miller.

Three of a kind . . . Oldham RL coach Scott Naylor is flanked by his assistants Lee Spencer (left) and Peter Carey.

OLDHAM RL head coach Scott Naylor has explained why he wanted to enlist a second assistant boss and why he specifically targeted Peter Carey.

Naylor says the former Salford Red Devils man will be a “great addition to the coaching staff” and is familiar with a lot of the players already.

Carey (47) began working for Roughyeds at the start of pre-season training at Oasis Academy last night.

Said Naylor: “To have only two people doing every single thing associated with players, team and squad is stretching it a bit.

“Next season will be a lot harder and it will certainly work better from our point of view with three pairs of hands and three minds instead of two.

“Rugby is in Peter’s blood; it’s always been a big part of his life. He’s always been associated with local teams, but I know him very well because our paths crossed when we were both at Salford.

“He’ll be a great addition to the coaching staff, not least because he already knows a lot of the boys from when we were all at Salford.”

Meanwhile, Oldham have new kit suppliers in Italian company ‘errea’, who have a range of merchandise available immediately.

Players were measured for new training gear when they reported back for training last night after their close-season break.

Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton: “This is a new venture for us, and we are all excited about it.

“We know fans want merchandise for Christmas presents and hopefully they will like the range that’s available right away.”

James Milner, head of sales at Cross the Line Sports Ltd, agents for ‘errea’ in the UK, said: “I’m delighted to link up with Oldham RLFC for 2016, coming off the back of a successful season, culminating in promotion.

“Working with a quality brand like ‘errea’ will enable us to offer Oldham fans a wonderful range of replica clothing and merchandise throughout the year.”

The company is also working currently on designs for home and away kit in the Kingstone Press Championship next season.

A special celebration shirt to recognise the Roughyeds’ fabulous 2015 season, in which they won promotion from Kingstone Press League One and lifted both the League Leaders’ Shield and the Championship Rose Bowl, will be available for purchase in the next couple of weeks.

Other merchandise can be purchased right away via the on-line shop, which can be accessed on the club website at www.roughyeds.co.uk