SADDLEWORTH RANGERS and Waterhead will not discover until late this year whether they have avoided relegation from National Conference League Division One.
After finishing in the bottom-two places, the fate of the local clubs would normally have been sealed.
However, they have been handed a possible lifeline with the NCL exploring a restructuring to make four divisions of 14 clubs which would mean they could both remain in Division One.
Mid-table Bradford Dudley Hill could also be demoted according to the league’s constitution for failing to fulfil an end-of-season fixture at Rochdale Mayfield, which could provide an escape for second-bottom Rangers who are facing back-to-back relegation.
Rangers at least finished the season on a winning note beating Milford Marlins 26-24 to move above Waterhead on points difference.
Coach Shane Tupaea, who took over in late June from Emmerson Jackman, revealed their pre-season training is already underway and he is pleased with players’ improving attitudes.
“We have started a pre-season training programme and it’s working well, which is a good sign,” he said.
“We have all got commitments and obligations but need to pull together and I am starting to see signs of that. Success doesn’t come without sacrifices.
“We have shown we can compete in this division and I believe we can finish at the top end next season if we stay up.”
For the 2014 season, Michael Coates and Steve Mawdsley will join Tupaea’scoaching staff while Emmerson Jackman could also be involved with the under-18s or Open Age.
Training sessions for all ages will move back to Churchill Playing Fields in Greenfield after the site reopened in September following an 18-month refurbishment.
Meanwhile, Waterhead’s rebuilding will take place with a new head coach as the club is advertising the post.
When Andy Sands quit mid-season, Mick Whalley and Jon Perks took over for the remainder of the campaign.
Whalley attributes summer rugby as working against Waterhead as holidays often left them with weakened line ups.
He said: “The club will have learned from playing in Division One after winning promotion and will have to start again.
“And there will be lots of local interest and good pay days with having Rangers, St Anne’s and ourselves in the same division next season unless the restructuring of the league changes that.”
Whalley will return to the backroom staff taking charge of the under-18’s alongside Paul Geener, a job which excites him.
“We have some talented 16-year-olds who have been dropped by Super League clubs. We have to nurture them and get them back on the road.”
