WINNINGTON Park will have a new man at the helm of their on-field operations for the first time in nearly a decade next season.

It has been confirmed that Dave Allcock – the club’s current director of rugby – will step down at the end of the current campaign after nine successful years in the role.

As such, the club have started their search for his replacement, who will take over for the 2024-25 campaign – and the new person in charge will hopefully assume their role with the club still at their current level.

With two games of their season left – both of which are at home – Park are embroiled in a battle to stay in the Regional Two North West. They are currently two points clear of Kirkby Lonsdale, who occupy the final relegation spot, with bottom side Liverpool St Helens a further five points back.

They lost their third consecutive league fixture on Saturday as they were beaten 33-5 at Whitchurch in a game that was scoreless at half time.

Indeed, Park scored the game’s first try just after the interval but the hosts stormed back to record an ultimately convincing win.

The visitors had good spells of possession in the Whitchurch 22 in the first half and came close several times in what turned into a battle of attrition.

They were denied by a forward pass following two consecutive close-range line-outs while a James Weeks interception try was chalked off as the referee was playing advantage for an earlier infringement.

Almost immediately after the break, however, Charlie Hyde stripped the ball in the tackle to turn defence into attack and after some good carries got them into the Whitchurch 22, Benny Elliot sent a lovely cross-field kick for Weeks to collect and score the game’s first try.

They continued to push for a second score, but were held up over the line and then conceded an interception try to give the hosts the lead.

Buoyed by taking the advantage, Whitchurch scored again almost straight from the restart and that try was quickly followed by a third on 56 minutes after Park were pulled up for a forward pass on their own 10-metre line.

Errors were hindering Park’s attempt to get back into the contest, with Whitchurch adding two more tries before full-time to secure their bonus point.

Park’s penultimate game of the season sees them welcome Isle of Man side Douglas to Burrows Hill on Saturday.

Winnington Park: Chris Twigg, Benny Elliot, Charlie Hyde, Lewis Pickering, James Weeks, Cameron Flanagan, Richard Hart, Ben Cann, Matt Treacy, Luke Westgate, Joe Hickey, Jarred Lange, Bruce McGrogan, Jake Cornwell, Ross Morrin, Jack Bailie, Frank Gibbons, Frankie Davenport

For more information about the director of rugby position, please contact either Paul Dean – Club Chairman 07779 230063 p.deany@outlook.com or Dave Allcock – Director of Rugby 07554 05134 dave.allcock@hotmail.co.uk to understand the role in more detail and visibility of the responsibilities.