Last updated at 15:51, Saturday, 21 January 2012

FORMER Raiders boss Steve McCormack believes his old club are capable of making an instant return to the Championship.

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McCormack – whose Swinton side visit town in a pre-season friendly tomorrow – is pleased things are looking up at Craven Park again, following a turbulent six months at the club.

And the Wiganer – who guided Swinton to the Championship One title and promotion last term – believes the coaching team of Darren Holt and Phil Atkinson are assembling a squad which could follow the Lions into the Championship in 2013.

“I’ve been looking on the (Evening Mail) website every night with interest to find out what’s going on at Barrow,” said McCormack.

“Obviously a lot has changed over the past few months, but they seem to have got a strong squad together.

“After all the troubles they have had, it’s good to see they are in a position of strength again.

“They’ve got some very good players, and they seem to have recruited well and I think they will be one of the favourites for promotion next season.”

McCormack was Raiders coach from October 2009 to August 2010 under ex-chairman Des Johnston, before the opportunity of taking up a teaching post near his South Lancashire home saw him depart the role. The former Salford, Whitehaven and Widnes coach has nothing but fond memories of his time at Craven Park – having left well before the Johnston regime fell into difficulties.

“I have only goods things to say about my time at Barrow,” he said. “I can’t speak highly enough of everyone at the club when I was there – from the players, to the fans, to the board of directors.

“They treated me and my family very well and I wouldn’t say a bad word about any of them. It was just circumstances really which saw me leave, with the teaching job coming up.”

McCormack is looking forward to returning to Barrow with a Swinton squad containing a number of high-profile newcomers – former Super League aces Kevin Penny, David Mills, Tom Armstrong and Chas I’Anson, plus ex-Leigh man Adam Higson.

One player who won’t be featuring at Craven Park is second rower and long-term injury victim Andy Gorski.

“We’ve kept 99 per cent of the squad who got us promoted last year,” said the boss.

“The core of the squad is young and we have brought in one or two new faces to add a bit of extra quality. We’ll be bringing a 20-man squad up and they are all eager to play and test themselves against what I’m sure will be a very tough Barrow side.

“We lost (28-6) to Widnes in our first game. That was an encouraging performance against a Super League side and we’re looking to build on that against Barrow and in our final friendly against Warrington.

“Barrow is a very difficult place to go and we are expecting a very tough game.

“I’ve watched the DVDs from the games against Cumbria and Wigan and they look to be playing with good shape and playing a good brand of football.

“It’s going to be tough and we’re really looking forward to it.”

First published at 10:32, Saturday, 21 January 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk