Salford and Oldham forge partnership

Salford and Oldham have become the latest Super League and Championship clubs to forge a working partnership.

Oldham, who will play in Championship 1 once again in 2013, are now coached by former Reds centre Scott Naylor, and the Roughyeds will now gain use of Salford’s younger players as part of their development.

Chairman Chris Hamilton said: “We are looking forward to working with Salford as we move forward into a new era.

“It will provide us with new opportunities, and not only in terms of players.

“Equally importantly, we will be able to tap into, and benefit from, the full-time club’s strength and conditioning programmes, their medical expertise and their sales, marketing and commercial initiatives.

“We can also look at how we can offer incentives for both sets of fans.”

The clubs, he said, had been talking about this for some time, following RFL changes in playing structures at Super League clubs below first team, which had changed the landscape at Championship One level.

Reds’ director of football Steve Simms added: “Oldham is a forward-looking club, based in a strong rugby league area. Both clubs will be able to look at players who might ordinarily not have forced their way to the front so quickly.

“Our brightest youngsters will get valuable game time at Oldham and this will allow us to assess their progress before they step up to the top flight.

“We will also be looking at commercial partnerships that will benefit both clubs.”