Oldham on the brink as taxman is owed £180,000

Another club is in trouble, with founder members Oldham trying to enter a creditors' voluntary arrangement next week.

The club, which plays in National League One, owes £180,000 in tax. "We have been paying it off in installments, but they wouldn't give us any more time," said the Oldham chairman, Chris Hamilton, who blames the expense of playing at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park for the club's troubles.

"We have put in a lot of money ourselves and now it's up to the people of Oldham to show whether they want a professional club," he said.

Oldham had one of their worst defeats of recent times - 68-26 at Rochdale - on Wednesday. They play at Blackpool in the Northern Rail Cup tomorrow, before starting their league season on Easter Monday, with Hamilton insisting that it will be business as usual on the pitch.

Oldham's plight follows the liquidation of the London Broncos two weeks ago and their resurrection as a new company.

Kevin King will have the task of marking St Helens' world-class centre, Jamie Lyon, when Wakefield go to Knowsley Road today. "The last thing he would have thought was that he would have played four of the first five games, but he's done well," said the Wakefield coach, Shane McNally. "He's proved he's well and truly up to Super League level."

Widnes are forced to call up their novices for tomorrow's game at London. With an injury list that now includes Shane Millard, Gary Connolly, Owen Craigie and Adam Hughes, the 18-year-old half-back or hooker, Paul Crook is in line to make his debut.

Two 19-year-olds, Steve Nash and Adam Bibey, are also in the squad, along with Misili Manu and Tim Holmes, who will make his first appearance of the season at full-back.

The Broncos have problems too, with Neil Budworth and Lee Sanderson out for the season for knee reconstructions. Dave Highton is likely to slot in as hooker and Mark O'Halloran is fit to return at centre.

In tomorrow's other Super League game, Warrington, level with Widnes on one win, host Huddersfield, who could add Jim Gannon and Sean Penkywicz to their line-up.