Workington Town coach Chris Thorman (pictured) has said former captain Oliver Wilkes is already have an impact on the squad after taking up a coaching role at the club.
Wilkes is an assistant to Thorman, who is enjoying having an old friend working alongside him.
“Oliver is very experienced and has already done a bit of work in the forwards, but generally he’s assisted me with anything I’ve needed help with,” said Thorman.
“It is important that you trust staff and I have had a friendship with Oliver since 1999, when we played together at Sheffield Eagles, so we’ve known each other long time and have that trust.
“But at the same time he’s very new to coaching, so I’m able to help him as well.
“Also, because he’s fresh out of retirement and was captain of this group last year, he offers a bit of a bridge between the players and me. He knows some of them a little better than I do, so if they have any dramas some of them can go to him and he can then liaise with me about it.
“It’s working out well so far.”
Meanwhile the club has strengthened its outside back options with the signing of 20-year-old former Huddersfield Academy player Alex Young.
“Alex is a lad I worked with at Huddersfield Academy, but he then moved away from the area to study law at Northumbria University,” added Thorman.
“He’s a 6ft 6in outside back that ticks a lot of boxes for us. He has an eye for the try line, but he also offers more than just that as a hard working and diligent young man, who I really enjoyed working with.
“He is ready to prove himself in senior Rugby League and we’re all excited to watch Alex progress in 2020.”