Oldham’s Vestacare Stadium granted RFL dispensation

The Rugby Football League has granted dispensation for Oldham to use the Vestacare Stadium in 2018, despite not having the required number of seats.

The ground does not have the 500 seats that meets the RFL’s stadium criteria.

Oldham have acknowledged that the Vestacare Stadium doesn’t meet minimum standards of the RFL in terms of Betfred League 1’s seating capacities and have said they are grateful to the sport’s governing body for granting the dispensation.

The RFL took into account the recent investment in the stadium and its refurbishment over the off-season.

And the dispensation arrives just in time for the Roughyeds’ first home game of the season on Sunday as they host Hemel Stags.

Oldham were relegated from the Championship last term but have wasted no time in messing around, with coach Scott Naylor signing a new two-year deal and them signing 13 players in a huge turnover at the club.

The Roughyeds won the Law Cup with victory over local rivals Rochdale Hornets in pre-season and started their League 1 campaign with a win at Whitehaven.