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Shaw signs up number nineteen

4/10/2008

WHILE the players are putting their feet up, Hornets’ coach Darren Shaw is still striving to put the finishing touches to his squad for next season.

Earlier this week he added former Leigh and Widnes back-rower Andy Isherwood to his squad, taking the number of players signed so far to 19.

Isherwood, pictured, started his career with Wigan where a broken leg hampered his progress.

He then joined Leigh Centurions and played a big part in their progress to the Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final in 2002.

Isherwood caught the eye of Neil Kelly, the coach of Super League club Widnes, and was signed on a two-year contract by the Cheshire outfit.

But he was again plagued by injury, suffering a damaged verterbrae during a pre-season training camp in South Africa, and he

eventually moved to Leigh and subsequently Oldham.

He ended his spell at Oldham for personal reasons and has been out of the game for around 18 months.

But he is now ready to make a comeback and Shaw, who knows the player well, is happy to give him a go.

He said: "I have known Andy for a long time and I am more than happy to have a look at him and see how he goes.

"He’s a very solid back-rower, strong, with good footwork, and an eye for the try-line. Although he has had some time out of the game I am hoping he can reproduce the form he showed when he was

playing."

The Hornets’ boss is still talking to several members of lastseason’s squad with a view to them penning new deals, and he hopes to have them signed up sooner rather than later.

He added: "To be honest I could do with a break myself before we start training, so the sooner I get players signed up and the squad completed the better. I aim to do that as soon as possible."

The players signed so far are: Chris Giles, John Gillam, Casey Mayberry, Martin Brocklehurst, Janan Billings, Sam Butterworth, Mick Fogarty, Dave Cunliffe, Kyle Neal, Carl Forber, Carl Sneyd, Andy Smith, Martin Ainscough, Dave Best, Wayne Corcoran, Paul Rolls, Paul Raferty, Jon Muir, Andy Isherwood.