Experienced Josh Lillis has signed a new deal with Barrow AFC - to keep him at the club as player-coach.

The 33-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the Holker Street club.

It will see Lillis remain with the Bluebirds as a player and goalkeeping coach under Mark Cooper’s new regime.

Lillis had joined Barrow last September under former boss David Dunn.

He made three appearances during the campaign but became an important figure behind the scenes as he worked with regular No1 Joel Dixon.

With Dixon having been strongly linked with Bolton, Lillis looks set to support new keeper Paul Farman, who recently arrived at the Progression Solicitors Stadium from Carlisle United.

New boss Cooper now looks set to lean on Lillis’s experience after his recent arrival at the Holker Street helm.

The Derby-born player started at Scunthorpe before spells at Notts County, Grimsby and Rochdale, establishing a long first-team career with the latter.

Speaking on the club website, he said: “Obviously, last year was my first with Barrow and it was a real rollercoaster, but I really enjoyed it.

“There are some great people around the club, and it’s been more of what I have been used to in my career – it’s a tight-knit family club with a good feel about it so I am really happy to re-sign.

“I am really looking forward to working with the new manager. I have come across him in opposition a few times over the years and I have always been really impressed with how his teams have conducted themselves, so I am excited by his appointment.

“I have always wanted to go down the coaching route, my father [Mark] is obviously a coach, so it’s always interested me, and I hope this is going to my career for the next 20 years or more.

“To get the opportunity to get my foot on that ladder with Barrow last year was brilliant and I will continue to provide competition as best as I can and throw my full capacity in to the coaching too. I think it’s something which suits the way football is going now that I am able to cover both roles, so I am just really looking forward to getting the new season started now.”

Barrow, meanwhile, will learn their fixtures in three different competitions tomorrow. The 2021/22 League Two fixtures are released at 9am as the Bluebirds find out how their campaign will unfold under Cooper. The afternoon then sees the first round draw for the Carabao Cup, and the group stage draw for the Papa John’s Trophy, both on Sky Sports.