Bobbie Goulding yesterday opened the latest chapter of his colourful career, as the coach of Rochdale Hornets, in typically unorthodox fashion - from hospital, after an ankle operation.

But the former Great Britain scrum-half insisted he will still be fit to play for Hornets, his ninth professional club, in National League One next season.

"We would have settled for Bobbie just as a coach, given his standing in the game," said Rochdale's chairman Ray Taylor. "But he still wants to play - he said to me the other day that looking at the bloody Test team, he should still be in that.

"It's only been a minor operation on his ankle, but that was why he delayed accepting our offer until now."

Goulding, 31, has not played for 14 months since Leigh's defeat by Huddersfield in the Northern Ford Premiership grand final, but he recently took over as coach of his old amateur club, Widnes St Marie's.

He has taken on a daunting task with Rochdale. The team has disintegrated since they finished third in the last National League One season, mainly because of the serious financial problems which also led to Martin Hall's resignation as coach last week.

Far from being worried by Goulding's reputation, Taylor sees the former Wigan, Widnes, Leeds and St Helens firebrand as the man to revitalise the club.

"I know Bobbie's track record and I've had phone calls from people telling me to run a mile," he added. "But we need somebody a bit sparky and a bit controversial. I've got players who have virtually promised to stay with us as soon as Bobbie is confirmed, and I know that his appointment will generate a lot of interest in the town ahead of our shareholders meeting on December 15.

"We took a chance on Martin Hall three years ago, and look how well that worked out. Bobbie can be just as good."

Hall remains the favourite to take over at Hull Kingston Rovers following the surprise resignation of Steve Linnane.

Meanwhile Stuart Raper has been confirmed as the coach of Cronulla. Bradford will today confirm the signing of Paul Johnson on a three-year contract from Wigan. The Moscow club Dinamo were last night drawn to play West Bowling, an amateur club from Bradford, in the second round of the Powergen Challenge Cup.