Roughyeds confirm coaching change and pay tribute to Long

Oldham chairman Bill Quinn and managing director Mike Ford have paid tribute to departing head coach Sean Long, and confirmed a change in coaching structure for 2026.

Ford will assume a more hands-on role as Director of Rugby, with the club now seeking to appoint a new first team coach following Long's departure this week by mutual consent.

Long left the club on Tuesday evening, with Quinn and Ford discussing the news on a new episode of The Boundary Line, exclusive to the club's popular YouTube channel Roughyeds TV.

"Our ambitions are never to stop still and we wanted to keep on improving and taking the next step," said Ford.

We went to Sean with plans to accelerate our on-field performances. Sean then went away to think about it and decided it didn't quite work for him.

We tried very hard to make it happen but in the end it was his choice and we shook hands and parted company.

We would like to thank Sean for what he has done in the last couple of years - 2024 was special when we won the league at a canter and then he got us to the top four. Our mindset now is that we never stand still. Now we want to accelerate our on-field progression."

Long himself parts on good terms with Oldham and has expressed his gratitude to both the club's fans and playing staff for their support during his successful two years in charge, which saw the Roughyeds win League 1 and follow it up with a 4th-place finish in the Betfred Championship.

Chairman Bill Quinn added:

"Our vision is to move the club on in every department in every way we can. We push each other and I think that is why we have made such an aggressive progression so far.

We looked at what we could do differently to improve and came up with a different idea to see Mike going to Director of Rugby and put that to Sean. I had a lot of discussions about it and Sean didn't see that as his vision. He has done a great job for us, we wish him well in whatever direction he goes in. He brought us to where we are now. He did an absolutely fantastic job and now that progression will continue."

Ford confirmed the tweak in structure will see him lead the rugby department and bring in a new first-team coach to replace Long.

"I have always wanted to be Director of Rugby and I think everyone in the organisation has known that from day one.

That is my skill set and it has taken us two and a half years of hard work for us to get here and allow me to focus more time on the rugby side of it. It is such a big job, it is the first team, women's team, pathway and students teams.

We will now be out there looking for a coach, or a couple of coaches to help with the first team. You put the press release out at 6pm and by 7pm I had eight CVs in my inbox! There is no shortage of coaches out there."

Ford also gives an update on imminent new signings, loan deals and contract extensions, with Quinn updating supporters on January's Benidorm Bash clash with Castleford.