Deakin appointed new Barrow coach

Barrow Raiders have appointed former Catalans and Oldham boss Steve Deakin as their head coach until the end of the season, replacing Dave Clark.

Clark is to stay on as assistant and community development officer.

Chairman Des Johnston told BBC Radio Cumbria: "It's a move we felt was necessary although it has been a difficult decision."

Clark was appointed head coach at Craven Park in 2007 following the departure of Paul Crarey.

He led the Raiders to the Northern Rail Cup final this season - the club's first major final in 26 years - while the side currently lie second in the Championship.

Maybe we need that little bit of extra experience to help us at the moment

Barrow chairman Des Johnston

"Dave is a young coach and has worked tremendously hard over the last couple of years," Johnston said. "But we've lost our last four or five away games and things haven't been happening the way they should have been.

"Things maybe haven't been happening the way they should have been... and we don't want to let the club slide away from the great start we made.

"Maybe we need that little bit of extra experience to help us at the moment."

Deakin, who has also worked at Sheffield Eagles, London Broncos and Huddersfield Giants, joined the Perpignan-based Union Treiziste Catalane as head coach in 2003 and laid the foundations for the Super League application before his departure.

"He will add more experience than anything else," Johnston said. "I've said to Steve 'here's your chance to stake your claim'.

"At the end of the season the post will be advertised nationally and then I'm sure we'll get a good response but everyone is in the frame."