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THE FANS COMMUNITY
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by ROGER HALSTEAD BILL Quinn, the Oldham chairman and owner, has issued a rallying call to fans in the aftermath of coach Steve Deakin's announcement that he would "step aside" if it was felt a new coach would benefit the team. The 42-year-old head of the giant Wm Quinn Group, who owns 75 per cent of the shares in Oldham RLFC (1997) Ltd, has also assured supporters that he is still as committed to the club as he ever was . . . and that Deaks has the full confidence and total backing of the Roughyeds' three-man board. Bill was anxious to dispel unfounded rumours that he, as well as Deaks, was considering his position at the club, allegedly according to reports on local radio. "I've had people ringing me up asking if there was any truth in the rumour," he said, "so I need to nip it in the bud NOW and assure fans that I have never made a comment to anyone about considering my future at the club or anything remotely like that. "I CAN ASSURE PEOPLE THAT I WILL BE AT OLDHAM FOR A VERY, VERY LONG, LONG TIME TO COME AND THAT THE EMPHASIS NOW MUST BE PLACED ON PRESENTING A UNITED FRONT WITH WHICH TO DRIVE THE CLUB FURTHER FORWARD." Earlier, as also reported on this website, the club's chief executive Chris Hamilton had spoken on similar lines and had also told supporters that Deaks, with the backing of the club "ain't going anywhere." Both chairman and chief executive said Deaks had criticised his team and had hinted that he might resign purely as a heat-of-the-moment reaction to his disappointment at recent Roughyeds performances, arising out of his passion for the club and his unqualified desire to see it succeed. Bill, who has invested heavily in the club and the team since he took over 15 months ago, said the club had achieved much in a short space of time although he conceded that just now the team was going through "a bit of a blip." He added: "We have, however, every confidence in the coaching staff and Steve knows that. Like me, he is no quitter. He spoke out immediately after the Blackpool game when emotions were running high. We can all be proud, though, of what the club has achieved in recent times and some people need to recognise that. "I want to place on record that Deaks has the full backing of everyone at the club and that we are united in our desire to push the club forward and upwards. "We need to be more consistent on the field, that's true, but I have every confidence in Deaks and in his coaching ability as well as in his general assessment of everything to do with players at our club. He will be left to get on with the job, interference free as ever. "Finally, our supporters can be assured that the board, coaching staff and players will now put all this behind them and get on with the job of pushing the club forward, starting with Sunday's Carnegie Challenge Cup fifth-round tie at Dewsbury where we will be hoping to reach the last eight for the first time." |
