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Five sign on

24/11/2004

OLDHAM coach Gary Mercer's squad building plans are gathering momentum with five new deals agreed in the past week.

One-year contracts have been penned by Martin Elswood, Will Cowell and Simon Svabic while talks are in advanced stages with Dane Morgan, Nick Johnson, Gavin Johnson and Lee Marsh.

Centre/winger Alex Wilkinson (Hull KR) and forward Paul Norman (Leigh) are the latest new faces with more on their way - although Mercer admits at least a couple of signings will take longer.

He said: "I believe I'll have the complete squad line-up finalised by the end of December. There are overseas players I'm looking at and we may have to wait to get the right quality of player. It's important to get the right people and I believe in doing my research first."

Wilkinson (22) signed a one-year deal after being released by Hull to do a full-time sports science degree at Huddersfield University

Norman (30) recently left newly-promoted Super League outfit Leigh Centurions after six years.

Mercer said: "I am delighted with the new players we have signed. Each time you cross the white line to play rugby league you have to go out there believing you will be a better player than the last time. These players are prepared to take one step back to move forward again."

Meanwhile, officials deny reports linking the Roughyeds with moves for Paul Owen and David Larder - the latter having joined Halifax.

• SEASON tickets and matchday admission prices for next season will be in next week's Advertiser. Fixtures are released in the first week of December.