Chris Hamilton had asked the Rugby League for permission to play their next three home games at Manor Park - the town’s rugby union ground - but with with neither turnstiles nor seats, Manor Park has been deemed unsuitable to host NL1 games.

This knock-back leaves Oldham having to find an alternative for matches against Hornets (June 5), Halifax (June 26) and Featherstone (July 3) because of repair work on the Boundary Park pitch. Club officials had looked at the new soccer ground being built in Ashton, but that won’t be ready for use until August.