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Fixtures farce

Carl Marsden
16/ 3/2005

OLDHAM coach Gary Mercer has slammed the Northern Rail Cup fixture pile-up facing his side and called for the competition to start earlier next season.

Commencing on Wednesday at Rochdale, the Roughyeds tackle four matches in 13 days including two more NRC Group games against Blackpool (Sunday) and Rochdale (Good Friday).

That run culminates in the club's all-important National League One kick-off at Featherstone on Easter Monday and represents bad timing all round, according to Mercer.

"If we're looking to progress in the Northern Rail Cup we need to look at winning all three of those games and we will work hard on that," he said.

"But cramming so many fixtures into such a tight period can't be good for anybody.

"The scheduling is ridiculous when you have to finish off the NRC so quickly.

"Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic competition and we relish it, but I really think they should look at bringing the start forward, perhaps into late January.

"It should not be running so close into the start of the league campaign which is the priority for every club.

"I have a bare squad of 17 players to pick from at present and so many games in such a short time will stretch our resources to the absolute limit."

Oldham take on Blackpool at Preston Grasshoppers RUFC's Lightfoot Green ground on Sunday and expect to welcome back prop and club skipper Ricky Bibey after a two-week lay-off with a knee problem.

Centre Alex Wilkinson (ankle) and forward Danny Nanyn (neck) will also be in contention but there are new injury concerns to ponder.

Damian Munro has sustained a shoulder problem and Cook Islander Tere Glassie has a hamstring strain - both are rated doubtful.

Meanwhile the Powergen Challenge Cup fourth round draw has pitched Oldham at home to York City Knights on Sunday, April 3.

"It's a very tricky tie," Mercer said. "To all intents and purposes, York are an NL1 side given their performances last year, so it will be tough.

"We're expected to win, of course, but we're excited about it and it offers the prospect of progressing and pulling a bigger club next."