Roughyeds facing liquidation

Oldham’s rugby club could be facing liquidation after being summoned to court over debt issues.

Rumours have been swirling for some time that Oldham RLFC has been facing financial troubles.

But now HM Revenue and Customs have issued the club with a winding-up order, summoning a representative to the Rolls Building courthouse in London on Tuesday, February 10. If the Roughyeds fail to clear their debt, they could be forced to close down. 

The news comes just after club director Mike Ford announced his shock departure yesterday (Sunday, February 1). Ford stepped down ‘with immediate effect’, stating on social media that ‘over the last few months it has become clear that the direction of travel of the club is not something I feel I can be a part of’. 

His resignation follows a public dispute between football club Oldham Athletic and the Roughyeds. RLFC’s Chair Bill Quinn has reportedly been banned from the Boundary Park pitch for twelve months, and the rugby team’s recent Challenge Cup tie was displaced to Stalybridge’s Bower Fold instead of their usual pitch. 

A spokesperson stated at the time that there was ‘a contractual financial dispute with Oldham Athletic with regards to its use of Boundary Park, with both parties believing to be owed revenues by the other’. 

Oldham Athletic denied claims they refused to let the Challenge Cup match take place at Boundary Park.

A statement issued on Oldham RLFC’s website on Monday, February 2, stated Ford’s resignation was ‘a planned departure’, and added: “Oldham RLFC continues to try to reach a resolution to the contractual dispute with Oldham Athletic and remains hopeful that it can return to Boundary Park soon. Additionally, we would like to re-iterate that the club remains in a strong financial position and rumours to the contrary are totally false.” 

The club has not responded to a request for comment.