Gary Charlton is back in rugby league after being appointed the new coach of Cumbria Men’s League club Maryport.

Charlton quit National Conference League side Egremont in April but says he’s refreshed and recharged and ready for a new challenge.

“I think I was ready for a break when I left Egremont but the game is in my blood and I’ve been itching to get involved again," he said.

“One of the problems at Egremont was that I didn’t think the players, in the main, were committed enough. You can’t play rugby league if you are not committed.

“As far as I’m concerned, you train hard and you play harder, so the first thing I will be looking for at Maryport will be total commitment from 20 or more players."

Maryport finished last season early, without completing their Men’s League fixtures, as they did not have enough players to contest the closing games.

Club official Paul Williamson said: “Obviously, we know why Gary finished at Egremont, and it is a common problem throughout the amateur game at present.

"But we are hoping that his own enthusiasm and commitment will rub off on the players and we can keep a competitive squad all season.

“When we decided to look for a new coach, we put out feelers to Gary.

"When we knew he might be interested, we took it further and are delighted that he has accepted the job.”

Charlton, who played for all four Cumbrian professional clubs – Workington, Whitehaven, Carlisle and Barrow – was joint coach of Town alongside Martin Oglanby from 2009 until the start of the 2013 season.

“Martin is in charge of Glasson Rangers in the Cumbria Men’s League, so that should be an interesting local derby," says Charlton, whose father Paul is a club legend with both Workington Town and Salford.

"I know we will both look forward to that."

The Men’s League season is due to start around the middle of March, so Charlton will get his Maryport squad together at the beginning of February.

“I will start with a clean slate. I don’t know any of the players but I’m looking for a committed approach from them all and I’m sure we can do well,” he said.

Maryport, and other west Cumbrian clubs, will have one less journey to the south of the county as Barrow Island have left the Men’s League to join the National Conference League set-up.