Mike Ford has bagged a new role... and George will be helping out

Former England and Ireland assistant Mike Ford has bagged himself a new role – heading up the five-strong investment group that on Friday took control of Oldham RFLC. Ford, who was recently in charge of Belgium for their Rugby Europe Championship campaign where they finished seventh of the eight teams, was the centre of attention at Boundary Park when the ownership change at the rugby league club was announced.

The ex-Bath director of rugby, whose most recent Gallagher Premiership job at Leicester ended in the summer of 2021 with the arrival of Kevin Sinfield, used to represent Oldham during his rugby league playing career and at the start of his coaching career. He now hopes that his group’s takeover is the start of a successful new journey for the Roughyeds.

Ford told the club website: “We are really excited about the future of the Roughyeds. It’s close to all our hearts and we know the importance of a vibrant, thriving Oldham Rugby to the town and its people.

“We certainly don’t take our responsibility as club custodians lightly and it’s our vision to give the people of Oldham a rugby league club they can be proud of. A club that they are excited and inspired by and one that they can identify with. We cannot wait to get started.”

Later at a media event, Ford added: “This isn’t about me, or us, but about the town, the club and you, the supporters. Collectively, we have a lot of different skills, but we haven’t yet worked out who does what.”

Oldham, who have not been in Super League since 1997, now play in front of crowds well under 1,000 in League 1, the lowest professional tier in British rugby league. Ford was joined on the club’s board by local businessmen Mick Harrington, Gary Kershaw and Simon Winnard and Haydn Walker, Ford’s assistant coach at Oldham more than 20 years ago.

“Our sole aim is to provide this town with a rugby league team of which everyone can be proud," he continued. "The move to Boundary Park was a key part of our interest. We have worked closely with Latics and with Oldham Council and we would like to thank both for giving us so much help. Going forward, we will have close links with Athletic, with whom we have a long-term agreement.”

Ford carved out a coaching career in rugby union before moving back to the area five years ago, buying land in Diggle and building a house where he lives close to George, who now plays for Sale following his 2022/23 move. Ford also revealed that his son, who has 82 England caps, will assist Oldham’s part-time players with some coaching and mentoring sessions.

“We have talked about that, me and George,” continued Ford at the media briefing. “To have guest sessions with people like George and Kyle Eastmond, and George will do a bit of that for sure. They will bring something different and every now and again, the lads here will get some sessions with them. I’ll be helping out too, I’ll mentor the current coach Stuart (Littler) to make the team better.”

Ford mischievously added that George could also one day actually play league for Oldham. “He is an Oldham boy, George, and he would love to have a go at it. He will get to the World Cup, then he might go for another four years or so because he is under contract with Sale but then who knows. He has always fancied a go at rugby league.”