Carl Forster, a key part of Whitehaven’s end-of-season revival, has been appointed player-coach at the Recreation Ground club.

The former St Helens and Salford Super League forward had been part of the four-man coaching team that took charge after James Coyle was sacked.

With Forster and Dave Allen on the field and local duo Scott McAvoy and Craig Calvert directing operations from the dugout, Whitehaven won three of their last five games.

Forster, 24, had signed an 18-month deal with Whitehaven when he joined the club midway through the season and made it clear he was happy to stay at the club, even though they were dropping into League One.

Whitehaven had interviewed three candidates before the end of the season but the directors had been impressed how the team had performed in the five games after Coyle left.

Chairman Tommy Todd said: “We are really pleased that Carl has agreed to take on the role of player-coach with the club.

"He has the respect of all the squad and was outstanding on the field in the closing matches of the season.

“When the subject of coach was mentioned to him by one of our directors, I’m delighted to say he expressed an interest and it didn’t take long for us to make the appointment.

"We will be discussing with him the appointment of an assistant."

“He showed extreme dedication to the club, signing before we were relegated," Todd added.

"His performances on the field have been simply tremendous and he threw everything into the games - leading by example from the front.

“When you have forwards like Carl winning the battle in the middle of the field, that's when you win games.

“He comes from a great rugby league background, starting out at Pilkington Recs then straight on to St Helens, with loan spells at Whitehaven in between.

"Carl then headed to Salford before joining us again for the remainder of 2016."

Todd said:“Carl's spirit is really infectious and his enthusiasm is enormous, I think this appointment will lift everybody at the club and be a breath of fresh air.

“He has a great number of contacts in the game and he’s already talking about the players he can bring in.

"We still have the likes of Elliott Miller, Dion Aiye and Jessie Joe Parker signed and I know Carl is keen to get other lads at the club re-signed.

“It’s all happened quickly in the end but now we know where we are going I’m sure Carl will see the squad take shape fairly quickly.”

Forster has made no secret of the fact he enjoys playing at Whitehaven as he played 22 games in a loan spell from St Helens, earlier in his career.

Of Whitehaven, he said: “I love it here, they’ve always treated me well.

"It’s a lot different to being in a full-time environment and, in a way, it’s more family-run.

"The directors, players and coaches get on together.

“It’s something that I enjoy and this isn’t a stepping stone for me to get back into Super League.

"I’m enjoying my rugby again for the first time in a couple of years and I love it here.”