 |
|
| GENERAL Homepage About Us History Records The Stadium How to find us Staff LATEST NEWS News THE TEAM Head Coach Player Profiles THE MATCH Fixtures/Results Match reports League table Travel info COMMERCIAL Corporate Official Sponsors Club shop ClubCash
THE FANS COMMUNITY
|
COACH Steve Deakin has
the full backing of the Oldham players according to club captain
Robert 'Two Bobs' Roberts, who has jumped to the defence of his
beleaguered team boss in an article in the Oldham Evening Chronicle. Following quickly on separate statements by club owner Bill Quinn and chief executive Chris Hamilton, each supporting Deaks to the full, Roberts has gone public with the dressing room view. He told Chronicle reporter Matthew Chambers: "All the players are 100 per cent behind Deaks, and it would be really bad if he left. In his time at the club he has taken Oldham from dire straits to a position where we are contending, as we are now. "We all sat down together when Deaks left the changing room after the game (v Blackpool last Monday) and all the boys agreed that we have to pull our finger out for him. All the players have a lot of respect for him and his man-management skills are brilliant. "Obviously, I feel a bit responsible as captain. Deaks is a big part of my life on and off the field and it was pretty hurtful to see him as he was after the game. He puts his heart and soul into rugby league and to see him sitting alone in the shower room after the game was awful. "The thing is, we haven't lost at home for a good while. But people look at our squad and thilnk we should be putting 60 or 70 points past teams. All we need to do is get the performance right and the scoreline will take care of itself. "Maybe we were a bit slack in the changing rooms beforehand, or in the warm-up. But that isn't down to the coach -- it's down to the players." Despite patchy form of late, Roberts believes his side are more than capable of snatching a Challenge Cup win at Dewsbury on Sunday. He added: "If you can't get up for a match like this you shouldn't be playing rugby league. It is a very winnable tie. And if we get through to the last eight you are looking at a real money-spinner -- there's even a chance we could be picked for live coverage on TV. "We have to make sure we get the performance right, and the result will follow. It is a massive month for us,.All we can do is look after ourselves, keep fit and healthy and hopefully get the right results." |
