Brocklehurst turns down new Oldham deal

Mark Brocklehurst has turned down an opportunity to have a fourth season at Oldham because of new and additional work commitments.

He will continue to work full time as a head of year at Hathershaw College, but he has now landed a second job out of school hours, working for Salford City Council with children who need special care.

The 26-year-old utility back re-signed for 2013 before he got the job in Salford, but on the understanding that he might have to leave the club if his new job application was successful.

Club chairman Chris Hamilton said: “Brocky made it clear from the start that his signing would depend on whether he got the new job.

“We are disappointed he won’t be with us in 2013 because he has been an important member of the squad for the last three years as well as helping out in the reserves, both as a player and a coach.”

In total he has scored 26 tries in 45 outings for the Roughyeds’ first team, his best season coming in 2011 when he was top try scorer with 17 touchdowns in 23 games.

Formerly with Wigan academy, Swinton Lions and Rochdale Hornets, Brocklehurst has said several times over the past three years that he was pleased and privileged to get the opportunity to play for his home-town club.

“I’ll still be around at Whitebank on match day to support the team,” he said, “but I had reached the stage in my life where I needed to take stock, re-assess and look at where I was going.

“Once I had decided to take the second job I couldn’t commit to what Roughyeds would require of me in terms of training and I’ve texted Scott (head coach Naylor) to tell him that.

“It’s time for me to look ahead beyond rugby, but I’m not announcing my retirement from the game because we live in uncertain times and things can change very quickly.

“I won’t rule out coming back and if things change sufficiently to allow me to do that I will quickly be in contact with the coach to see how the land lies. He seemed okay about that.”