OLDHAM have signed stand-off Paul Crook, the ex-Rochdale man failed to gain promotion with Whitehaven after they lost their final against Barrow.
Crook has taken the decision to leave Cumbria and join up with the Oldham.
Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton said on Crook signing: “It was a close-run thing, but Paul is hoping to go one step better at Oldham. We’ve known him a long time and Scott (head coach Naylor) identified him as a player who could do us a lot of good.
“Paul has kicked us to death several times and he’s the type of player who will fit easily into our structures and the way we do things. He’s had a good season at Whitehaven and he undoubtedly has the qualities to do really well for us.”
The St Helens born player scored 1,499 points in seven years at Rochdale to break an all-time club record that had remained intact since 1934.
He started out at the Saints academy before moving onto Widnes, Doncaster and Swinton, before having his seven year stay at Rochdale. He signed for Whitehaven last season, and now joins Naylor at Oldham to help the Roughyeds fight to get back to the Championship.
On signing for the club Crook said: “Funny how things turn out, I was grateful to Carl Forster and Whitehaven for giving me an opportunity in Cumbria last season and I’m equally grateful to Scott and Chris for giving me this chance at Oldham.
“I enjoyed my season at Whitehaven, but with a young family at home the travelling got a bit too much. It will be a new challenge for me at Oldham, but Scott and Chris have recognised that.
“The plan is to go all out for promotion and I’m looking forward to that challenge, I’ve been in this position before (leading Hornets to promotion in 2013 and 2016) and I’d love to do the same for Oldham and help to get them back to where they should be.”
In other news assistant coach Pete Carey will once again be at head coach Scott Naylor’s side for next season, after signing a new one year contract.
Naylor said Carey’s new deal: “Pete isn’t afraid to question things or to air his views and opinions, I like that, and it brings a lot to the club.
“He can be as serious as the next man when he has to be, but he can also be very funny. He’s great in the dressing room; always taking the mickey out of the lads, it’s good to see. He’s a very good assistant who does anything asked of him and I’m delighted he’s staying.
“He’s had plenty of experience in coaching at Salford (various age groups) and I know he really enjoys working at Oldham with the lads, myself and the others in the backroom team.”
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