AHEAD of his third west Cumbrian derby Workington Town's Leon Pryce says he’s learning all the time about coaching.

Pryce had a highly successful career as a player with almost 500 senior appearances and 17 caps for Great Britain.

But when he took charge of Town ahead of the new season he was raw and untried as a coach.

“It’s been a learning curve and you’re constantly looking at things you can improve," said Pryce.

“When I joined Workington I knew nothing about League One, what the players were like or how they would respond.

“I’ve made mistakes. Signing ex-Super League players like Scott Leatherbarrow, Jamie Foster and Jordan Tansey didn’t work out.

“It’s taken time for the squad to blend and I think we now have a nice mix of local lads, ex-Super League players like Sean Penkywicz and Fuifui Moimoi, and young dual registration players who are hungry.

“There’s still almost half the season to go but I think we are where I hoped we would be t this stage.

“Only Bradford and York, who have both spent money on players, have earned more points than us – and we’ve beaten the Bulls with York still to come to Derwent Park.”

Pryce knows that his side face a stern test tomorrow from a Whitehaven side who are only two points and two places behind them in the League One table.

“I’ve seen Haven against us and I’ve watched their matches on video. They are a good outfit and we will show them the respect they deserve.

“Derby games are often 50-50 and it boils down to which side wants it the most.

“We have to show the hunger and desire needed in matches like these.

“But I’m really pleased with the spirit in the side. It’s a team which is really together on the field and that counts for a lot.”

French flier Ilias Bergal, on dual-registration from Leigh, is set to make his Town debut while Tyler Dickinson returns again from Huddersfield Giants under the same arrangement.