Oldham sign Ballard

Oldham have signed former Widnes and Crusaders utility back Paul Ballard.

Ballard, 27, has been without a club since the demise of Blackpool Panthers at the end of 2010, and has since recovered from a knee injury suffered during that spell.

He has played under Roughyeds coach Tony Benson at Leigh, before on to Widnes and then Celtic Crusaders, for whom he played for in all three professional divisions.

The brother of Barrow winger Andy, Ballard was being courted by a number of Championship 1 clubs, including the Raiders.

He goes straight in to contention for Oldham’s final friendly against Featherstone on Sunday.