PAUL Crarey is delighted Ryan Fieldhouse has rejected advances from other clubs and taken up the option on his contract of a second season with Barrow Raiders.

It should come as no surprise that the 28-year-old attracted interest from elsewhere after an impressive first season at Craven Park which saw him establish himself as a key member of the side which narrowly missed out on promotion from Kingstone Press League One.

But after considering his options, Fieldhouse has decided to stay with Barrow for another year, and head coach Crarey hopes the full-back can continue to play a big role as the Raiders aim to go one better in 2017.

“There were a few (other clubs interested) and we spoke to Ryan, and he wanted to come in and stay,” said Crarey. “He does a bit of travelling, he’s got a young family and his wife has just had another baby girl, so it’s a big commitment for him.

“But he said he has really enjoyed his rugby here, and we’ve got a family atmosphere here and he likes that style.

“It’s a very good atmosphere to play in – there is no pressure from me or the board, and we want lads to come in and play because they want to play good rugby, and go out and express themselves which is what he has done.

“It’s a step forward to us becoming a very solid team and if we do go up to the Championship, we wouldn’t have to change a lot.

“We’d just add to what we’ve already got and that’s the secret, really, of getting a balanced side and Ryan gives us that.”

In total, the former Dewsbury and Halifax player made 23 appearances and was the club’s joint-third-highest try scorer during the 2016 campaign, along with Andy Litherland, after crossing the whitewash on 10 occasions.

He joins captain Oliver Wilkes as one of the first current squad members to agree a new deal, with more set to follow next week.

“It is great that Ryan has committed to Barrow,” said joint-Raiders director of rugby Andy Gaffney, who has been negotiating behind the scenes along with Mike Sunderland. “He was a consistent performer in defence and attack during the successful 2016 season.”

Crarey was quick to highlight Fieldhouse’s role in a defence which let in just 375 points in the regular season and Super Eights – only table-toppers Toulouse Olympique conceded fewer – as well, citing three key tackles he made early on in the play-off final as an example of that.

“He was a rock at the back last year, we weren’t the second-best defensive side for nothing and the lads like playing with him because he talks really well,” said Crarey.

“His positional play was excellent and the full-back is massive in our team because it is the extra pivot, and he set up loads of tries.

“We didn’t want to start again, we wanted to add to what we had last year and with him committing to us, it’s great that he wants to stay for another year and we’re very pleased.”