Whitehaven's squad building for 2019 continues apace with two more popular players re-signing for the club.

There’s also a boost to the board with a member of a big local lottery-winning syndicate now a director.

Dave Thompson and Jason Mossop are the players who have committed themselves to the cause while local businessman Jason Ball has joined the board.

In 2012 Ball and three friends – two of them employees at his Jink Tattoo studio – shared the £2.4 million top prize on the National Lottery.

He said: “I’ve lived in Whitehaven for nearly 20 and my father-in-law, Barrow Wilson, has been a Whitehaven supporter since he can remember and my two boys have been avid fans.

“When I got the opportunity to be a member of the board, I took it.

"It will be nice to have some input into the club rather than just shouting from the sidelines and bring some fresh eyes and ideas to how great it should be.

“We want to get some interest back into the club and bring more people through the gates and support a great team.

“I’m looking forward to next season with the new coaching team and some of the amazing signings we have made will bring the team back up to the top and be the side that people fear to play again.”

Jordan Burns, Jessie Joe Parker and Chris Taylor were the first three re-signings and, with Thompson and Mossop now added, Whitehaven have already put a solid base in place.

Mossop, entering his 13th season in the professional game, has extended his stay to the end of the 2020 season.

He said: “I really enjoyed last season and I thank Foz [Carl Forster] and the club for giving me the opportunity.

"I’m excited to be a part of the transition period under the new coaching team. I know what they will expect and it is something I’m looking forward to being involved with.”

Thompson has also signed a two-year deal which takes him to the end of the 2020 season and Whitehaven have had to fight-off competition from a number of clubs in higher divisions.

Thompson said: “I’m delighted to have signed back at Whitehaven.

"I knew from when the season ended this is where I wanted to be and where I wanted to stay.

“I had a couple of teams interested in signing me but my heart was always set on Whitehaven and I am excited for the new season to start and, hopefully, we can get the team back to where it belongs in the Championship.

“I would like to personally thank Whitehaven and the people who made this signing possible and also the fans who have been a honour to play in front of and made my stay here a whole lot better.”

Coach Gary Charlton said: “Dave is very strong and returns the ball with interest to start our sets off really well.

"He has a good turn of pace and is also a good defender. He makes the right decisions under pressure and I’m really pleased to have him back with us again.”