Dave Clark is building a backroom staff at Workington Town set to tackle the challenges of League One.

The new head coach has secured a coup, luring conditioner Matthew Johnson back to the Zebra Claims Stadium and he will join assistant coaches Jonty Gorley and Craig Barker.

Johnson spent last season with neighbours Whitehaven and he said the decision to return to Workington was not an easy one for him.

"It was quite a difficult decision to make between Whitehaven and Workington," admitted Johnson.

"It was an emotive one for me, really. There was nothing to choose between them in terms of what league they were in.

"But I spent seven years playing at Town, I signed when I was 18 for Workington, so that was a major factor in my decision.

"And the fact that Dave Clark is the head coach was another.

"I have a lot of respect for Dave and have worked with him in the Cumbria Academy set-up.

"I know what he brings as a coach, he is structured and organised and really enthusiastic about rugby league, so he is a great person to work with."

And Johnson says plans are already under way to look at pre-season training.

"We will be doing some gym work, increasing the power and strength of the players," he added.

"And there will be conditioning work on the field, getting fitness levels up but having some structure to it.

"Players will be tested first and we will get a level where they are and then devise a pre-season programme and test them again at the end to look at their progression and development."

Gorley was pleased Johnson was back on board, saying it was a huge boost for the club.

"Jonno is a big plus for us, he is a local lad and very good at what he does," said Gorley.

"He has a lot of good connections and will know a lot of the lads."

Gorley says the club does have a big task ahead of them but says he is keen to play his part in the rebuilding process.

"Personally I didn't like how we finished last season with the results so I am very keen to be involved in rebuilding the club," he added.

"We are building for the future. This is a new season with new challenges and obviously some new faces.

"I know Dave and have worked with him before and I think he will be ideal for fetching some of these young lads through."

Craig Barker has been with Workington for over 20 years and has seen it all before but he is confident the club can rise from the ashes once again.

"We have been in this position before, and unfortunately, it has come round again and we know it is a big task," he said.

"But the coaching staff has increased and the board has increased, so hopefully, there are more hands and we can build a competitive squad from bottom to top.

"It is down to everyone to muck in, get their hands dirty and get the club back where it belongs.

"And although it will be hard, it is still exciting.

"There will be a lot of travelling this season but there is determination in us all, coaching staff and the board.

"We want to keep momentum going from now, through pre-season, into the first match and through to the last game."