Adam Clay commits to Oldham
Oldham have been further strenghthened by threequarter Adam Clay inking a one-year deal at the club.
The 24-year-old arrived at Whitebank part way through the 2014 season, playing nine games for the Roughyeds as a winger.
He scored four tries in those nine games, and played through injury, having ruptured a ligament in his right ankle.
He is now hoping to be fit for the start of the 2015 season, though he may require keyhole surgery to cure the problem.
“That’s the target,” said Clay.
“It’s nothing serious, perhaps taking a couple of weeks out of my pre-season, but I just want to get fully fit so that I can show everyone my true self.
“I’m hoping there’ll be a cancellation on the surgeon’s appointments list so that I can get it done sooner rather than later.
“In the meantime I’ll carry on as I did last season, getting regular rehab under the guidance of the club physios.”
Clay was Barrow’s top try scorer in 2013, grabbing 12 in 27 games in the Championship that year.
He is now looking foward to the challenges that the new league structure will provide in 2015.
“As a player, that’s what you want,” he added.
“It’s going to be a cracking division, not only because five strong teams are coming down from the Championship but because the others are getting better with each passing season.
“Of those, Gateshead Thunder have the potential to be a real threat and they have made no secret of their intention to take the fast track to Super League.
“With Scott in charge, we’ll relish this sort of tough challenge, which will bring out the best in us when we are being tested fully every week.”
Roughyeds coach Scott Naylor, who recently signed a three-year contract at the club, is looking forward to seeing Clay in his team.
“I signed him for Salford a few years ago so he and I go back a long time,” said Naylor.
“We knew all about his ankle injury when we signed him, but we also knew that he could and would play on it, albeit it at 70 per cent.
“He should be 100 per cent by the start of the next season and having seen him play at 70 per cent I’m looking forward to seeing him go flat out.
“He carries the ball well and gets us on the front foot on his kick returns. He has played at a higher level and we are lucky to have him playing for us.
“Despite his background in Championship rugby, he knows there are areas in which he can improve his game and I have to say he is very willing to learn.”