OLDHAM RLFC boss Scott Naylor further strengthened his 2019 squad this week with the capture of Wakefield Trinity’s 19-year-old winger Lee Kershaw on a season-long loan.

The promising youngster, already a fans’ favourite at the Vestacare Stadium, excelled in loan appearances last season, but his future was in the balance until Oldham clinched the new loan deal.

“It’s one of the most important signings we’ve made,” said Naylor, who now has 22 players on his roster for the new season.

Club representatives, meanwhile, plan to have a follow-up with supporters in March after the success of last week’s inaugural public meeting.

“Now we’ve started this initiative we’ve got to keep it going,” said Julie Collins of Purpose Marketing, a keen Oldham fan who has offered her professional expertise and know-how, as a volunteer, to spearhead the club’s marketing and community programmes.

Nearly 50 fans, including supporters’ trust and Oldham RL Heritage Trust representatives, met at the stadium to listen to the club’s extensive development plans for 2019.

Naylor left pre-season training with assistants Pete Carey and Paul Crook and conditioner Adam Neal, to spend time giving fans an insight into preparations for 2019.

Also on stage were office staff, administrators and media team members with Oldham Community Radio’s Dave McGealy and Gerald Brierley helping to run the event.

After the forum, office manager Julie Collins said: “Everyone seemed to enjoy it. We’re all fans together and by working together we can take our club to where it needs to be.

“One of the objectives was to give supporters a taste of what’s going on behind the scenes. Another was to get some feedback and we got what we wanted --- loads of it.

“The challenge for us now is to look at all the ideas and suggestions, examine them in detail and implement some of them as we take the club forward.

“We need to have another event like this in three months and maybe keep it running after that on a regular basis.”

It was revealed club chairman Chris Hamilton, who had heart surgery earlier in the year, is undergoing a long period of recuperation and he has been working behind the scenes liaising with Naylor on the signing of players.

There were many suggestions from fans, ranging from greater engagement with schools and community clubs to making greater use of popular club mascot Roary.

It was stressed that the sale of season tickets was essential to provide off-season income.

They can be bought online via the club website or over the counter at the club office inside the Vestacare Stadium between 10am and 3pm tomorrow (Friday), payment via cash or cheque only, but fans should be aware that tomorrow is the deadline for buying discounted tickets.