Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes confident of player funds

Stokes led Haven to a fifth place finish last season

Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes believes he will have the finances available to rebuild his squad after relegation to Championship One this season.

Haven have suffered with financial problems this campaign but Stokes believes the board will generate funds.

"This board are constantly working to repay debt but also to bring new money in," Stokes told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"That's so we can bring players into the club so we have the quality to get back up again."

Haven's financial situation has been well documented, with American chairman Dick Raaz revealing earlier in the season that his side needed £100,000 during the season if they were to survive.

The best thing is for us to go down there and start again with a clean sheet

Ged Stokes

Stokes had previously stated that there were no funds available to sign players to strengthen a bid to escape the drop, given the precarious state of the Marras finances.

And Stokes' third season in charge at Haven ended with disappointment on Sunday, as Dewsbury defeat to play-off hopefuls Leigh Centurions sealed the Cumbrians' fate.

And the Kiwi admitted his focus has already switched to next term, and creating a side with a winning mentality.

"We need to get a team that is competitive in Championship One," he said.

"The team also needs to strive to have the quality and ambition to go back up to the Championship again.

"For the last three years the environment at the club has been one of 'lets avoid relegation' rather than let's win the competition. The best thing that can happen is for us to go down there and start again with a clean sheet.

Stokes added: "We need to go with a positive attitude to get back up again.

"Our fans and everyone connected with the club need to get behind that and that's the only way we're going to achieve that."