Relegated Championship side Whitehaven sack boss Stokes

Stokes spent five years at Workington Town before joining Haven in 2008

Whitehaven have sacked coach Ged Stokes in the wake of the Cumbrian club's relegation from the Championship.

Haven got within 80 minutes of a place in the Championship Grand Final in 2008 after Stokes' appointment and he again led them to last year's play-offs.

But he was unable to repeat that success, a 13-match losing sequence condemning them to Championship One.

Whitehaven broke that run by winning at Keighley on Sunday but it was not enough to save the Kiwi's job.

With one game left to play, the Marras are second-bottom in the Championship, but relegation had already already been sealed thanks to the disastrous 13-game losing run which only ended on Sunday following the 29-28 win against fellow relegated side Keighley.

And Stokes has faced increased calls for his dismissal from sections of the club's support in recent months.

"The board felt that this was the most appropriate decision given the comprehensive restructuring the club will have to make to accommodate playing and financial demands in Championship One," Haven chairman Dick Raaz told the Whitehaven News.

"Major restructuring will have to occur and the playing and coaching staffs will have to be modified accordingly.

"While the board believes that Ged has given full commitment to the club and the team during his tenure, including taking the club to the play-offs in two successive seasons, our circumstances are different now and a time for rebuilding has come."

Stokes began his coaching career with Canterbury Country Cardinals in his home country in 1994 before he was appointed head coach of the Canterbury Rugby League representative side.

In 2000, he led Canterbury Bulls to victory in the inaugural Bartercard Cup Grand Final and was named New Zealand coach of the year in the same season.

Following a spell in charge of the New Zealand 'A' tour of Great Britain in 2003, Stokes was appointed head coach of Workington Town before moving down the Cumbrian coast to their neighbours.