Whitehaven RL coach Paul Crarey is undergoing tests in hospital after being taken ill at home. His wife Julie told the club's website today: "He’s not very well at all. They’re treating him for angina and his cholesterol is high so they’re doing some tests. It’s stress that’s brought it on, I think."

This week Crarey told The Whitehaven News of his exasperation at two shocking Easter defeats but vowed he would not quit. “I am going to stick it out,” he declared on Tuesday before taking ill.

Crarey was left professionally devastated and personally affected by Easter Monday’s home loss to Batley, 48 hours after being well beaten at Featherstone on Good Friday.

Mrs Crarey said her husband was sitting at home when he was taken ill and she took him to Furness General Hospital.

"He’ll have to take some time off," she said. "Hopefully when he’s seen the specialist he can come home. It’s just a nightmare."

The head coach will be taking some time out from the coaching role whilst he recovers. Haven's players will be given an update on Crarey's condition at training tonight  and arrangements will be discussed for Sunday's away game at Widnes.

His good friend, former Barrow Raiders team manager Dave Kendall said: "Paul is not too good to be honest. I went to see him yesterday and he’s all right but they haven’t pinpointed anything so they’re going to keep him in."

Mr Crarey enjoyed a successful playing career as a hooker with amateurs Dalton and then in the professional ranks with Barrow and Carlisle, and also represented Cumbria. He then became a coach, with spells at Dalton and Walney Central, before replacing  Peter Roe as head coach of the Raiders in October 2005.

Crarey, known throughout rugby league circles as Cresta, spent two seasons at the helm at Craven Park, leading the club to sixth and third places in National League Two. He parted company with the club after the end of the 2007 season, taking the reins at Whitehaven.