Whitehaven name Workington's Murray as head coach

New Whitehaven head coach Anthony Murray (right) with assistant Neil Fraser

Whitehaven have announced that Anthony Murray will be their new head coach for the next three years.

Murray had been head coach at Workington Town for the last two seasons, but he will now take charge of the Marras.

Whitehaven were relegated from the Championship after a financially-troubled season. Both they and Workington will play in League 1 in 2025.

"This is an opportunity for the club to re-build going down to League 1 and start with a realistic budget build with some local players and help in this re-build of Whitehaven," Murray said.

Former St Helens player and TV pundit Kyle Amor took over as head coach of Whitehaven for the last six games of the season.

He managed to win two of those but that was not enough for them to avoid relegation on points difference from Swinton Lions.

Amor stood down and now Murray, who had rejected a new contract with Workington, will be in charge of the rebuild at the Ortus Rec.

"What an opportunity to coach a great club that is steeped in history and tradition and I just can’t wait to get started," added Murray.

"I’ve spent a big part of my career in Cumbria. It’s a place that’s really close to my heart. It’s the heartland of rugby, I love the people up here and what they stand for. They get behind their club and they are very passionate."

With Murray's departure, Jonty Gorley has been appointed as the new head coach at Workington on a two-year deal.

He was at Whitehaven until August when he resigned over the problems at the club.