Haven boss James Coyle admitted the loss of Scott McAvoy has been a huge blow to them this season, as they try and fight off the threat of relegation.

Skipper McAvoy has been out of action with a knee injury and won’t feature again this year, which came as a blow to Coyle, who rates the former Hensingham amateur highly.

He said: “We just need to keep the right people fit. We have had some really important people missing and that has a huge effect.

“The most notable is Scott McAvoy. He is more important to us than most people realise.

“His presence in the dressing room is key. He is calm and has experience of these situations with Whitehaven and knows the way out of them.

“Scott has been a big miss for us and it is disappointing that he won’t play again this year but we do have people that can step up.”

Haven travel to Bradford Bulls this Sunday in what will be a tough test with the Bulls, who are going all out to secure a top-four finish.

And Coyle is hoping to get some experience back in his own ranks with Ryan Duffy, Dave Allen and Louis Jouffret all set to return and bolster the ranks.

But new signing Carl Forster will not feature for a few weeks after having a clean-out operation on his shoulder.

The 24-year-old forward was released from his contract by Salford Red Devils two weeks ago and Haven were quick to snap him up on an 18-month contract.

Forster is no stranger to Whitehaven fans having played 22 times for the club in 2013 and 2014 while on dual registration for Saints.

“He will be back in four or five weeks we hope and then we will be really strong going into the last six or seven games,” said Coyle.

“We have just got to get through this stage now where we are a bit busted and it is difficult to keep picking the lads up week after week.”

Jessie Joe Parker will not feature this weekend as the Papua New Guinea international tore his hamstring in the clash with Batley last weekend.

This is another blow to the club as he will be out for up to six weeks and Thomas Coyle will probably also miss the trip to Bradford through injury.

The Recreation Ground club has also had a lift off the pitch with the recruitment of two new directors.

Peter Boyle, who works at Sellafield, and has proved an excellent organiser, putting on several fundraising events for charity in the town, is new to the boardroom. Phil Barwise is returning for a second stint, although he has continued to help the club in various ways.