Forward parts company with Barrow Raiders

The former BARLA Great Britain international has returned to Dalton, but Barrow say they will leave the door open should he have a change of mind.

Nicholson was set to turn out for the Kelland Park outfit today in the Pennine League, after spending one season at Craven Park.

Raiders coach Paul Crarey said Nicholson's decision to go 'came out of the blue' and he is disappointed to see the packman depart.

"I am disappointed of his decision because I think he had done really well," said Crarey following Nicholson’s release.

"I just think professional rugby is too much for him, he wants to play amateur football."

Crarey was Nicholson’s coach at Dalton and with the BARLA set-up and has watched the player develop, and felt he finished the 2015 League One season on a high.

Nicholson made 14 appearances and scored two tries for the Raiders last season but felt he could not commit to the new training regime.

He departed on good terms with Crarey saying of the 26-year-old: "He has had a great first year and I think all of us at the club are disappointed he decided to call it a day, it was totally out of the blue.

"He just phoned me up and said he didn't want to do it any more and he was going to go back and play at Dalton.

“The club tried to change his mind but he said he didn't want to do it, and he can't commit to all the training and stuff.

"I thought he was a bit of a crowd favourite, they liked him. His potential was massive.

Crarey, who has coached Nicholson for the past five years, added: "He's been good for me. He played for Great Britain and Dalton and was outstanding.

"Adam is a friend of mine and will still be. Nobody will hold anything against him. He was totally honest and said: 'I just can't commit to three nights a week of weights and training and want to go back and play for Dalton and maybe get involved with the coaching there’, so we respect him for that.

"Professional rugby league is a massive commitment and these fellows don't get a lot for doing it either so it is their call and all at the club wish him the best of luck in whatever he decides to do.

“We are a bit disappointed that he hasn't stayed because I thought he was doing really well.

"There are no hard feelings from us and we wish him all the best."

Barrow Raiders joint director of rugby Mike Sunderland said: "We were disappointed that Adam couldn't commit to the training regime that Paul requires for the team this season.

"We have spoken to Adam at length and we came to a mutual agreement that it was beneficial for the team and himself if he was released from the squad.

“He has departed under good terms and he is wanting to go back to the amateur game, and we wish him all the best. We are hoping in the future, if he can turn it around where he can commit we would welcome him back with open arms.

"He expressed concerns that he couldn't commit fully to this season. He made it quite clear that he couldn't commit to what we wanted and after a conversation with him over the weekend it was decided that we would release him through a mutual agreement.

"He is only a young lad he's got plenty of time, the door is always open for him. He's a lovable lad.”