Betfred League One side Oldham have announced that the club is now under new ownership, following the completion of a successful takeover approved by the Rugby Football League.
The acquisition, which has been spearheaded by Oldham legend Mike Ford and local businessman Mick Harrington sees the club enter a new era, which includes returning to Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park from 2024.
Ford, who made almost 200 appearances for Oldham across two spells, said: “We are really excited about the future of the Roughyeds.
“It’s close to all our hearts and we know the importance of a vibrant, thriving Oldham rugby to the town and its people.
“We certainly don’t take our responsibility as club custodians lightly and it’s our vision to give the people of Oldham a rugby league club they can be proud of. A club that they are excited and inspired by and one that they can identify with. We cannot wait to get started.
Harrington, a lifelong Roughyeds fan from Delph, added: “This is a historic day for a historic club. We do not want to get ahead of ourselves, and we know there is a lot of hard work ahead – but we feel that we can do something special here.
“Oldham remains a rugby league hotbed and we believe the potential, especially with Boundary Park now as our home, is huge.”
Outgoing Chairman Chris Hamilton, who reformed the club over 25 years ago, commented: “When I started on this journey 25-and-a-half years ago, little did I know that it would take over my life and that everything I did would revolve around this club.
“Everybody knows that this has not been a journey full of glory, or of continued success but it has certainly been an eventful one for sure. In 1997 I was one of four people who wanted to make sure that professional rugby league in Oldham carried on. Of course, for quite a long time now I have been the only one of those four who was still in place.
“As I think about my time at the club there has been an incredible amount of hard work by a number of people to ensure we still have a club today.
“Of course, we have achieved much more than simply maintaining a club. Our promotions to the Championship, the number of Grand Finals we have played in, being one match away from Super League. The list could go on and on.
“With the new owners coming in, the recently announced move back to Boundary Park, the potential for major development at Melrose Playing Fields, then it is not too hard to think that the club is gaining some traction in moving forward.
“I sincerely wish my successors all the very best in their efforts with the club.”
Oldham’s new board have announced that the move to Boundary Park is part of a longer-term strategy to help the club access fresh revenue streams and build a sustainable future.
Over the coming weeks, Ford and his fellow board members will be forming a new management structure, as well as increasing communication and transparency with the club’s supporters.
OIdham currently sit fourth in Betfred League One and are next in action this Sunday when they travel to North Wales Crusaders (14:30 kick-off).
