WORKINGTON TOWN have announced that former player and assistant coach Jonty Gorley will return to the club- to take the reigns as head coach in a two year deal.

Workington Town RLFC announced last week that they have appointed Jonty Gorley as their new head coach- following the departure on Anthony Murray at the end of last season.

Jonty who has coached at Whitehaven for the last few years, was planning on finishing his rugby league career all together at the end of this year, but has said he feels taking up the position is 'something he needs to do'.

Speaking about returning to Workington Town, the new Head Coach said: "I have thought about this for a long time now, I was finishing at the end of the year with rugby all together.

"I know what Workington is about, I have been here as a fan, my dad used to fetch me in the 70's and I come in the 80's on my own, with my mates watching and it's part of it.

"So I know what the club is about, I know the feel round the spot and when I sat down they sold it to me even more (the board), it's going in the right direction considering where they were three or four years ago.

"I'm doing it because I think the club is going places and I want to be involved in helping that happen."

Gorley has previously been a player and a coach at the club and hopes his new chapter as Head Coach can bring the 'good times' back to Workington.

He said: "I played a few games, I played in some good sides and I played against some good sides, and some of the best players in the world at the time and I loved my time at Workington.

"I just feel I have got connections back then and I am wanting that vibe again and I want to help bring that back to the club, the good times."

The new backroom team includes Dean Marwood, Carl Forber, Paul Halcrow, Paul Slone, and Jimmy Woolaghan.

Matthew Johnson will continue as the strength and conditioning coach, while Courtney Stephenson joins as the club's new physio.

A club spokesperson said: "We welcome all the new faces to the club as we aim to reset our aims against our 2027 pledge which is to become a sustainable and competitive mid-championship club by 2027."