ROUGHYEDS have pulled off a major coup by bringing in Brian McDermott as a coaching consultant until the end of the season.

The 51-year-old brings a wealth of experience to Oldham in their hour of need, tasked with steering them clear of relegation trouble in the Betfred Championship.

McDermott led Leeds Rhinos to wins in four Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge during eight years at Headlingley, leaving in the summer of 2018 having become Super League’s most successful ever coach.

A few months later he was named head coach of the ambitious Toronto Wolfpack and was at the helm until their top-flight demise.

Now he is relishing the battle at the bottom of the second tier with his first game in charge the home match against Bradford Bulls at Bower Fold on Sunday.

McDermott revealed a long-standing relationship with Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton was how the deal came about.

He said: “Chris and I go back a long way, right back to 1997 in fact.

“I’ve always admired him for the way he has conducted himself as Oldham chairman and the way he has run the club.

“Due to unfortunate circumstances, Roughyeds find themselves in a relegation battle. Chris came to me for advice and asked if there was anything I could do.

“We met and talked about the situation and it was agreed that I should come on board as a coaching consultant until the end of the season.

“I’m absolutely sure Matt Diskin will have put in place good systems and coaching philosophies so I won’t be going in there to turn everything on its head.

“It may be the need is just for a new voice or a new perspective.”

Hamilton was confident he’d got the right man to preserve Oldham’s Championship status.

Speaking last night, he said: “Brian will come in as a coaching consultant and he will be at training tomorrow to meet the players and the staff

“He’s a born leader with a great record as both player and coach at the top level.

“He’s very much his own man and that was very much part of his appeal. I’ve always had a lot of respect for him and I’m confident he will be ab le to come in and do what’s required.”

Roughyeds sit second from bottom with 10 games of the campaign remaining.

Hamilton was on the lookout for new leadership after head coach Matt Diskin was dismissed after a run of seven straight defeats.