Whitehaven appoint coach Stokes

Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes admitted he is proud to have taken over at the Recreation Ground but paid his respects to departing boss Paul Crarey.

Crarey stepped down as coach on Friday for health reasons and Stokes admitted he is sad to hear of his plight.

"I've got a smile on my face but it's tempered by Paul's circumstances," he told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"He got the club up to a good level and his health let him down. You've really got to feel for him."

Interview: Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes

The New Zealander will not be pitched into action immediately, but will attend Saturday's trip to highflying Widnes.

It looked to me as though the players had lost a bit of confidence Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes

Despite a poor start to the season Stokes is adamant things can improve for Haven.

"Looking from the sidelines it looked to me as though the players had lost a bit of confidence," he said.

"I guess that comes with getting used to a new coach and his style and I believe that confidence will soon come back."

"You don't become a bad team overnight."