Whing keen to build Barrow team in town's image

Andy Whing replaced Stephen Clemence as Barrow head coach in January

Barrow head coach Andy Whing says learning about the Cumbrian town and its football club has been a big factor in the type of players he has signed this summer.

Whing arrived in January to replace Stephen Clemence and set about gaining an understanding of the football club's importance to the area and community.

Now he wants to put that into practice ahead of the Bluebirds' forthcoming League Two campaign.

"Before I joined I was on YouTube looking at the town because I want to know what the people in the town want," he told The Barrow Social podcast.

"I want to know everything about the place.

"I have relayed that to the players the last couple of days in terms of who they're representing and what type of player they need to be to represent the football club."

Barrow ended last season in 16th place after a run of just one defeat in their final 13 games.

It has been a busy summer since then, with nine new players signed so far, offset by 12 departures.

One of Whing's key points has been to assess a player's character to see if he would fit in at one of English football's remotest clubs.

"One of the biggest things we have tried to do this summer is get the right people in," said the ex-Solihull Moors boss.

"It's been quite hard. I've had loads of Zoom calls, loads of conversations this summer.

"There was one lad, I turned my laptop on and saw him on Zoom and thought 'He's not right for us'. It was just the way he was sitting."

'I love the town and the people'

Barrow continue to train in Manchester, but travel north for matches, which can cause a feeling of detachment.

But Whing is doing everything possible to make sure there is a connection between himself, the players and the club's supporters.

And in the space of six months, he admits that he has developed a real affinity for the town.

"When I first joined, I didn't sleep as I was watching videos of Furness Abbey and all these other places in and around Barrow, so I'm familiar with it," he said.

"I love it and I love the people here. It's one of the best clubs I've been to in terms of the people here.

"The staff, the people at the ground, the fans I've met. It's been fantastic and it drives me on even more to want to be a success."