22 September 2023 , 15:19
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Wakefield Trinity assistant Sean Long has emerged as the frontrunner to be Oldham’s next head coach.
Mirror Sport understands the ex-Great Britain scrum-half is in line to take over at the ambitious League 1 club for 2024. Long, 46, took Featherstone Rovers eight points clear at the top of the Championship this season before a surprise sacking in August. Having previously worked as an assistant coach at St Helens, Salford, Leeds and Samoa, it was no surprise he proved in demand.
Trinity head coach Mark Applegath took the former Man of Steel on as his assistant to aid their fight against relegation. But bottom-placed Wakefield suffered the drop last week meaning they will play in the Championship next term. Oldham parted company with boss Stuart Littler in August and Mike Ford, who led a consortium to buy the club in March, took over on a caretaker basis.
But hopes of promotion were dashed after a shock play-off loss to unfancied North Wales Crusaders last weekend. Oldham today announced 12 players will be leaving at the end of November. In addition, on-loan centre Connor Carr will also not be returning to Boundary Park having ended his season-long stay from Huddersfield Giants.
The dozen players who won't be retained are Patrick Ah Van, Sam Bardsley, Jack Blagbrough, Liam Copland, Joe Hartley, Gregg McNally, Deane Meadows, Luke Nelmes, Dom Newton, Lewis Sheridan, Sean Slater, Martyn Ridyard and James Thornton.
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