: Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:09 pm
The below is from Oldham Chronicle
OLDHAM have sacked club captain Robert Roberts for unspecified disciplinary reasons.
No comment is being made publicly by the club on the reasoning behind the decision, which is believed to relate to an incident which happened towards the end of last week.
However, it isn’t thought to be the first time the 29-year-old Wales international has teetered close to the line of acceptability in terms of behaviour in recent months.
Roberts has had a chequered career and it is the third time he has suffered such a fate following incidents at Huddersfield in 2003 and at Leigh four years later, the latter preceding a move to the Roughyeds to play under his former coach at Keighley, Steve Deakin.
At the time, Oldham chief executive Chris Hamilton revealed that the fiery character had been made fully aware of the need to abide by the club’s code of conduct.
“Expectations on and off the pitch have been made very clear to him and he fully understands what is expected,” Mr Hamilton had said, of a talented player who went on to be such a vital pack leader as the Roughyeds reached play-off finals in consecutive seasons.
Roberts, who last month had a public spat with chairman Bill Quinn after a Challenge Cup defeat at Gateshead, had been out of action with a knee injury of late.
Praised for the work he had done in helping spread the rugby league gospel in local schools, he nonetheless becomes the second player to fall foul of club disciplinary rules this season.
Daryl Cardiss was dismissed for similarly unspecified reasons less than two months after signing a new contract late last year.
Roberts’ dismissal could lead to the club seeking to recruit a direct replacement in the second row, with Mr Hamilton admitting “it is an option”.
Meanwhile, Roughyeds centre or full-back Paul Reilly is set to see a specialist over his twice-broken nose, with a protective facial guard one possibility to prevent him sustaining further injury.
Danny Halliwell, sent off for punching at Workington yesterday, will find out a week tomorrow if he is to pick up an RFL suspension for his actions.