BARROW Raiders’ 2016 squad building has taken another positive step forward with utility man Andy Litherland the latest player to put pen to paper.

Litherland’s deal swiftly follows the return of pack man Andrew Dawson and swells the ranks at Craven Park to seven, with another major announcement due to be made later this week.

In all, the club are targeting a squad of between 27 and 29 players as they look to make a concerted attack on League One next season.

Former Walney Central amateur Litherland showed his worth both at centre and second row in last campaign, going over the whitewash five times in 16 appearances for the club.

Raiders joint-director of rugby Mike Sunderland is thrilled to capture the signature of the 25-year-old, and said: “It is fantastic that he agreed to sign. He is definitely and up-and-coming player, he has matured a lot in the past year, I think his attitude is fantastic, and I really believe that he is one for the future.

“He is very versatile and never complains when he is asked to play in a different position and adapts well to every game that he plays.

“When you look at the size and shape of Andy he will complement most positions on the field.”

Litherland was with Raiders in 2012 before returning to the Cents side where he enjoyed much success as the club were crowned Cumbria League champs and Barton Townley Cup final winners before he returned to Craven Park.

In his previous time at Barrow, he played in pre-season and the Northern Rail Cup, but suffered a knee injury which prevented him tasting Championship One action.

Litherland suffered several minor injuries setbacks last season, but never took a backward step to battle alongside his team-mates in a campaign which saw them just miss out on the play-offs.

Sunderland added: “I think any player involved in a huge impact sport such as rugby league is, is going to pick up a few injuries.

“He has been unlucky in the past but again the fitter they get with the fitness regime that Tadge (conditioner Paul Taylor) has put in place the fewer injuries they are going to receive, and with a larger squad he is going to have time to recover from any injuries, as all the players will.

“The unfortunate thing last year was that we were having to play players that probably weren’t really fit enough to play in the game.”

Looking at the recent deals and ahead to next season, Sunderland added: “It is great that we could keep the nucleus of the squad together it builds from there. What we are aiming to do is strengthen what we have got, not bring in a new team.”

“We are aiming for a team of 27 to 29 players so that would give us a lot more flexibility than we had last season. We are getting very close, we have maybe got another three or four that we are trying to get and once that is done then hopefully the whole squad will be announced over the next few weeks.

“We are still in discussions with a couple of the players that were there last year and obviously we can’t disclose that and we are looking at another couple of players to bring in.”

He said of the new face arriving at the weekend: “We really believe it is one of the things that have been missing all last season.

“I really believe the signing we have made is going to make us a lot more competitive in this league.”