WITHOUT falling into the trap of making specific promises, go-ahead Oldham Rugby League Club say they are “quietly confident” of doing well and causing a few upsets in the Championship.

The newly-promoted Roughyeds know that from Bradford to Batley, Halifax to Hunslet they will be the team the others love to beat. Their reputation as big spenders will go before them, as will their heavily-chronicled ambitions and expectations.

“I’ve coached in the Championship and it’s a tough division, very tough,” said head coach Sean Long. “We are going up a level so we’ve got to go up a level in playing terms too. We need to be faster, fitter, stronger, tougher, better, than we were in League One last year and we are putting together a squad with that in mind.”

The signings of Super League stars Gill Dudson and Adam Milner will add experience and international class to the Oldham pack; the younger Lewis Baxter and Ben Forster come with big wraps; and now comes confirmation from managing director Mike Ford that at least two, and possibly three more big-name captures will be revealed next week.

Oldham can’t announce them yet because there are still bits to be ironed out on agreements and contracts, but Ford is as sure as one can be in these circumstances that at least two of the three will be here within days and that hopes of nailing the third new boy are also looking good.

Young full-back PLT, of course, will still be here on loan to provide his inimitable razzle-dazzle - and Long’s ability as team chief, allied to Ford’s knowledge of the game, of the sport generally, and of all things rugby union, should be enough to see Oldham through.

“It’s all looking exciting,” added Ford. “I think our fans will be very happy when we announce the new signings. I’m sure the squad we will have will be good enough to enable us to consolidate in the Championship at the very least. We will certainly be a hard team to beat, given our brilliant defensive efforts in League One.

“I know the Championship is a different animal, but our defensive figures last season were phenomenal at any level. To play our last four home games without conceding a point is truly remarkable — and I say that as a former defence coach myself.”

Added chairman Bill Quinn: “We are winners and we’ll never stop in our efforts to take this club forward. The things that are going on here, both on the field and off it, are phenomenal. Personally, I can’t wait for the new signings to be announced. It will be big news when it happens and to be honest it’s only what our fab fans deserve.”

As was reported last week, the players are already back for pre-season training and in some cases are six weeks ahead of their new rivals. Said Ford: “We can take advantage of that - and we certainly will.”

The full squad for the Championship season of 2025 is expected to be announced before the end of this month. Fixtures will be out soon and Oldham expect bumper crowds at Boundary Park for the visits of, among others, Halifax, Bradford Bulls, Featherstone Rovers and Widnes Vikings.