Whitehaven to sack Stokes

Correspondent

Relegated Whitehaven are set to part company with head coach Ged Stokes.

The Kiwi has endured a tough season at the Cumbrian club and has faced increasing calls from fans for him to be replaced.

It appears fan power has prevailed, with Stokes set to be placed on gardening leave until a settlement can be agreed between the two parties.

Whitehaven had lost 13 successive games before Sunday’s 29-28 win over Keighley and have gone from being one of the top clubs in the Championship, winning the minor premiership as recently as 2005, to dropping to the third tier.

Stokes was only handed a new two-year deal earlier this summer, but it seems chairman Dick Raaz has rain out of patience with the former Workington boss.