North Wales Crusaders: Anthony Murray appointed head coach

North Wales Crusaders assistant Anthony Murray has been appointed head coach until the end of the season.

Murray has taken charge of the Championship side after Clive Griffiths stepped down to become rugby director.

The former Warrington, Leigh and Oldham player started the season as head coach of Barrow Raiders but stepped down due to personal commitments.

Murray has spent the past few months on Griffiths' backroom staff but will take charge for the next 11 games.

"We've got to take it game by game, but I know we've got the ability within the squad to stay up," Murray said.

It's a real dogfight at the bottom and we can't make any promises, other than that we will all work extremely hard for each other."

"I've made it clear to the directors I can only take the post through to the end of the season as I've taken a position with the University of Liverpool.

"But in a way that gives me a great opportunity to focus solely on trying to keep us in this division."

Meanwhile prop forward Mark Offerdahl has left Crusaders to join NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons.

The 26-year-old joined Crusaders for the 2014 season after impressing for the United States during the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.