Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey will remain patient in trying to reinforce the centres department of his squad after recently missing out on a target that had looked certain to sign.

Crarey is looking to replace former captain Martin Aspinwall, who decided his body could no longer take the rigours of professional rugby league not long after pre-season training began and retired.

Bringing in new faces hasn't been an easy process during the off-season - it never is for Barrow, with their location sometimes putting off targets from outside of Cumbria from signing.

What Crarey won't be doing, however, is rush into bringing someone in who won't really fit into the team's style of play and squander what's left of what remains a limited budget, particularly with the club having to adjust that accordingly for life in Betfred League One next year.

Crarey said: "We're trying hard and at the last minute we had an Australian middle, who can play at prop and loose forward, go back on his word on us and go and play on the Gold Coast after getting an offer to play there.

"There were a few clubs after him, actually, and we were probably favourites to get him in, but was got a phone call saying he was going to be stopping on the Gold Coast and that happens all the time - I always say we have to target ten players to get one.

"But there's no panic because we've got a very good squad. I just feel we're short of a couple of middles, with Martin leaving and we were always going to try and bring a middle in.

"It might be after the French season has finished or it might be if somebody pops up.

"There may be enough money left to bring in two players and finish our squad it depends on what quality positions come up.

"We're not just going to waste the money for the sake of it, it's got to be the right person for that position, especially in the middle because we definitely need another middle in the future."