Ashton returned to cougar park tonight as coach of the oldham reserves. I doubt it was just me who heard him and his very colourful choice of words he used throughout the game was terrible. Every first team game there is a tannoy announce about rugby league being a family sport. There was quite a few young children present at the game today and i just think that this is unacceptable. I never was a fan of him and after this showing i dont think i will becoming a fan of his in the very near future.

At 1st team games, it normally goes un-noticed due to the noise. However at a game with a smaller crowd where every other word can be heard, then yes coaches should use better choice of words. Barry Eaton & Brendan Hill used to keep it clean at reserve games.

I actually don't think it was any worse than normal, stand behing any dug out at any game from U18's upwards and you'll hear the same .Have you ever stood on the touchline at your average Pennine League fixture ?- I rest my case

As for Ashy, TBH I always had him down as a cocky gobby little git when he was at Keighley ,(remember the backheel ). But at last years equivalent reserve fixture he showed a side to him that some what changed my opinion of him for the good

My nephew was making his reserve team debut aged 16 at scrum half against a certain Mr Ashton who had been one of his playing heroes in years past.
Ashy did indeed give him a torrid time on the park as you would expect but on the field and at half time and post match was incredibly supportive towards him passing on encouragement and advice to our boy and took time out afterwards to talk through the match,tactics and improving his game with him.It was something very simple he did but much appreciated that will be remembered for a long time to come.

At Keighley, Ashey was the very definition of the word enigma, but no one could deny his passion for the game or for winning. For whatever reason, he always appeared to be a little bit on the "outside" of the team, which to me was a great shame. He could and should have done so much more at Keighley.

I genuinely wish him every success, but he just needs to control his gob.

Nice hat too, a fishing rod would have finished it off nicely

Good point Rach.

I definatley agree rach. But at a professional enviroment the use of words like C*** and the rest is by far unaccetable. I think ashy gave a bad account for himself last night and backs up the point of what rach said about him being cocky.

I agree he was a cocky devil but he did have a softer side.He always made a point of looking for my mum in the stand home or away and give her a wave it always made an 80 year old happy.On the last match he played in he gave her his Cougar shirt dont tell the club they probably wondered where it had gone.Sadly mum is no longer here but we still have the shirt.

I have heard very, very good things about Paul, from people connected with Oldham.
I wish him all the best.
He was a very good player when at Keighley.

I took a 12 year old down to watch the match last night. A friend of my daughters. He has been to a couple of 1st team games. I asked him after if he enjoyed it. His answer was yes but his exact words were "I wanted to tell the Oldham coach it was a family game and he should listen to the announcement they play at 1st team games."

He is not the only one. Another family who I spent time persuaded for weeks to come down last year came down and said they enjoyed it, but would never come back because of the coaches language in front of kids.