Oldham appoint new Operations and Commercial lead

The club is pleased to welcome David Bottomley as its new Head of Operations and Commercial.

Bottomley joins the Roughyeds with immediate effect, bringing a wealth of experience from a career in business and sport.

"I'm very excited by this opportunity with the Roughyeds, having been born in Oldham quite a long time ago!" Bottomley told Roughyeds TV.

Hopefully I am bringing a background of commercial organisation and have worked in professional football and other industries with a background of being able to run things operationally.

Commercially I hope to attract sponsors and hopefully give something back and raise money for the club, because the ambition is very clear. This club wants to be in Super League and we only get there by having both the off-field and on-field product working together in harmony and that is what I intend to do in my role.

Oldham-born and a huge sports fan - very much including rugby league - Bottomley specialises in business development, sales and commercial planning, having spent six years as Chief Executive of Rochdale AFC, and worked closely with AFC Fylde.

"I spent a number of years living in the south of England where rugby union was the preferred game and I had to explain about league and why it was the better sport," Bottomley said.

This is an exciting sport played primarily in the north of England but with interest all over the world now.

I've been to a number of matches here and love the way it is played and how it is a real family product. This is a really exciting sport for families to get involved.

I intend to network as quickly as possible with a lot of people in Oldham, look after our current sponsors and bring new people in. And very importantly help the Foundation - the Foundation and the rugby club should work side by side.

The great thing about this club is the structure that Bill and Mike have put in place in terms of its stability financially, and the on-field product is brilliant. There has never been a better time to get involved, and I don't think there is a finer game to get on board with than rugby league."

Bottomley joins Oldham following the departure of commercial manager Kieran O'Reilly, who has left to pursue other opportunities with the club's best wishes.