Browse Sections

• Oldham Athletic FC
• Oldham Roughyeds'
• Local football
• Local cricket

Hamilton vows to fight on to bitter end

Carl Marsden
6/ 4/2005

EMBATTLED Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton is vowing to "keep on fighting" as his crisis-ridden club reels from the events of another nightmare week.

On Tuesday night the Roughyeds survival hopes were dealt a major blow when the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise rejected the club's latest settlement proposal.

It is currently unknown whether the tax authorities will allow Oldham to submit a revised offer or proceed immediately with the winding-up order.

Sunday's Challenge Cup exit at the hands of York City Knights was also a hammer blow to the Roughyeds' survival prospects: robbing them of a potential life-saving fifth round tie at holders St.Helens.

And Hamilton also admitted "bitter disappointment" with an attendance of just 1,282 spectators in response to his pleas for a show of support as the club continues to fight against the threat of closure.

Speaking exclusively to the Advertiser, he said: "I have to admit that I was very down on Sunday about the whole thing - the size of the crowd and the result - but I am a fighter.

"They say that God loves a trier and I am certainly fighting... still battling and still alive and kicking."