PAUL Crarey knows Barrow Raiders cannot afford to rest on their laurels now they are certain of a place in the Betfred Championship for 2019.

The Raiders have been busy building a side, with several members of the current squad having renewed their contracts, and Deon Cross and Jake Spedding being brought in as well.

But with Joe Bullock moving to Wigan Warriors and Alec Susino heading back to Australia, Raiders head coach Crarey sees plenty more work still to be done.

“It doesn’t stop for us and it’s about recruiting again,” said Crarey. “Some players are moving on, like Joe Bullock and Alec Susino, who have been magnificent for us.

“We’ve got other players contacting us, Jake Spedding has signed and Deon Cross has, and I think he’d be a great find for any Championship club because he scores tries and he’s got presence.

“That’s what we’ve missed a little bit in our back-line, with second rows and props playing in the back line, and we became a bit one-dimensional.

“But against Swinton, once we got a natural centre back with Declan (Hulme) who holds his shape, everything comes from there and we became a really organised team again.”

Barrow chairman Steve Neale and the board are working to find new income streams for the club too, and Crarey knows important those will be to ensure the Raiders become established in the Championship.

“Some of these teams at the top have got business people who put their personal money in, Toronto have got almost an endless pot and you’ve got Toulouse who are spending 2million euros,” said Crarey.

“London are spending around £1million and we’re at around the £300,000 mark - and the likes of Featherstone are reputedly spending £750,000 and didn’t make the top four. It’s not like League One where you might get three easy fixtures and you can rest lads for those.”