IMPACT forward Andrew Dawson has become the latest player to put pen to paper for Barrow Raiders.

The powerful Millomite has agreed terms for one year and his signature is seen as a huge boost to the Craven Park club.

Dawson follows the recent captures of Joe Bullock, Liam Campbell, Anthony Bate, Adam Nicholson, and Leigh Centurions skipper Oliver Wilkes and more deals are set to be announced later this week.

Joint directors of rugby Andy Gaffney and Mike Sunderland are delighted to have Dawson on board for what should be an exciting season as Barrow make a tilt of securing a top-five finish.

Dawson is recognised for his barnstorming runs and his arrival is giving Barrow coach Paul Crarey a strong nucleus to work with.

Gaffney said: “We are getting a squad together as much as we can.

“It is great news, it is important to keep the nucleus of the squad together and add to it.

“It is coming together very nicely now. We have another big announcment later on in the week. Things are looking exciting.”

He said of Dawson: “Every time he pulls on a Barrow shirt he makes it count. He wants to be part of it, he enjoys playing under Cresta (Crarey), which is good.”

Dawson came off the bench on 20 occasions in the last campaign and went over the whitewash once. In all, he has turned out a total of 89 times since his arrival and has been seen as the man to turn to when the going gets tough.

Sunderland said: “It’s great, he is a solid as a rock and I think he does a fantastic job.

“He is definitely one to keep on your side, we wouldn’t want him going anywhere else. He is one of the best players that we have got around here.

“He can change a game it is as simple as that. Whether he comes off the bench or is starting he gives it his all. We are very glad to be able to retain his services.

“There are more to come, we are very excited at the moment and I can’t wait until the season starts.

“You can’t stay still in this game, you look at the quality that is coming through into League One. We have got to move with the times, we have got to strengthen our team. I still believe we will play the most entertaining rugby that you will see in this league.

“We are hoping to secure three or four new players in the squad and they will all be big impact players as well. These are new faces.”

Their anticipated arrival will, like Wilkes, offer plenty of muscle to the squad who will face some tough oppostion in 2016.

Wilkes was an outstanding captain at Leigh for the past two season and played his 99th and final game for the Centurions in the Super 8s qualifier against Widnes.

He has also played for Sheffield Eagles, Huddersfield Giants, Keighley Cougars, Whitehaven, Wigan Warriors, Widnes Vikings, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Harlequins RL and represented Scotland in the 2008 and 2013 World Cups as well as his native Cumbria.

He reached the notable milestone of 400 career appearances in the early part of last season and has scored 75 tries and kicked seven goals in 421 professional games since making his first-team debut for Sheffield Eagles in 1998. For Leigh, he scored 17 tries in 99 games.