WORKINGTON TOWN have had a disrupted pre-season as they build up to 2026.
With a new community stadium development on the horizon, neighbours Workington Association Football Club, whose nearby Borough Park ground will be demolished to make way, are due to groundshare at the Fibrus Community Stadium imminently.
As a result, there has been ongoing work on the pitch and at the stadium to accommodate the football team and achieve the required ground grading standards.
That has meant Jonty Gorley’s side haven’t been able to train on their home pitch, as they would normally.
Gorley himself has had to take it easy after being taken ill in the final game of last season. He remains off work and says he has put a lot of responsibility on his backroom staff to run sessions and look after the squad over the off-season.
They have made use of the facilities at Workington Zebras Rugby Union club, Maryport and Lakes College.
Two trialists were included in their squad for the Ike Southward Trophy clash with rivals Whitehaven, but there was still no sign of Kiwi winger Levi Atiga.
Kells backrower Jack Ainley and Hensingham winger Reuben Butterworth were in the player pool as they try to impress sufficiently to earn a professional deal.
Prior to Christmas, Workington clarified their position on Atiga, who remained in New Zealand after the start of pre-season.
They revealed that a compensation package had been agreed with the old Salford club for him to move there after he had already signed a contract for 2026 with Workington.
But with the demise of the old Salford club, that fell through, and in a lengthy statement detailing the events of the past few months, Workington said they held Atiga’s registration and an official contract for 2026, and any club interested in his services would need to contact them.
His visa application remains in process, meaning he is unable to fly to the UK to play for Workington, or anyone else, with the time estimate for a resolution still six to eight weeks.