Ged Stokes is new Haven coach
Last updated 14:49, Friday, 28 March 2008
FORMER Workington Town boss Ged Stokes has been named as the new head coach at Whitehaven after Paul Crarey quit for health reasons. Add your comments to this story.
Stokes, a former coach of the New Zealand A-team, was sacked by Town last April after an alleged row with a visiting supporter during Town’s Northern Rail clash with Barrow two months earlier. An RFL inquiry into the incident had cleared the Kiwi of any wrong-doing but following a subsequent Town disciplinary hearing he was fired for gross misconduct.
The club later agreed a £14,000 pay-off.
Stokes will be at Whitehaven until the end of the 2008 season. Directors say that despite what happened at Derwent Park they were impressed after talks with him last night.
Crarey, Haven's head coach since the sacking of Dave Rotheram - ironically now at Town himself - quit yesterday following an angina attack which came on 24 hours after his team's shock home defeat against Batley on Easter Monday.
The players were told at training last night (Thursday) that their head coach would not be able to carry on.
Haven chairman Gordon Grace said today: "In the circumstances having lost our first two home league games we have had to act quickly. We are all very sorry about what has happened but Paul has made his decision to stand down in the best interests of his health, his family and the business he has. We appreciate that.
"Paul Crarey is a super guy and a good coach, the players have total respect for him. He was motivational and inspirational on training nights but unfortunately he did not have time to transfer that on to the playing pitch. With running his own roofing business as well, Paul never stopped, I think he was burning the candle at both ends."
Grace added: "I have interviewed hundreds of people for jobs and with Ged Stokes I am convinced we have the right man for this job. You are looking for certain qualities such as leadership, self-belief and confidence, and in our opinion he has these in abundance."
Asked about Sunday's tough game at Widnes, the chairman said: "This one's for Paul. The players were shocked to hear of his illness and we all hope they respond the right way on Sunday after two very disappointing defeats."
Assistant coach Peter Smith will take charge of the team at Widnes and Stokes will take his first training session on Tuesday.
terrible news, he failed at town and he'll fail with us. were going backwards as a club, weve no money and no hope
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Peter Smith was a rock to me playing in the academy so he should step up tp first team coach
Posted by Gary J on 11 April 2008 kl. 14:39