Whitehaven have boosted their squad ahead of the Super Eights by signing former Salford prop forward Carl Forster.

And 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.

It’s only a fortnight since the 24-year-old Forster was released from his contract by the Red Devils.

He had joined Salford in 2015 from St Helens but has only played 15 times, three of them in the current Super League season.

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

He has actually played more games of senior rugby for Whitehaven than any of the other pro clubs he has represented.

He turned professional with St Helens in 2009 from the amateur club Pilkington Recs and was a member of the St Helens Academy squad which won their age group Grand Final. But in four years with the Saints he only appeared five times for the first team.

He had a dozen games each for Swinton and Rochdale Hornets on dual registration in 2012/13 and played five times on loan with London Broncos in 2014.

In a tweet soon after his release by Salford, Forster said: “I would like to thank everyone at Salford for granting my early release, I would like to thank all the fans for the support in the last 18 months, you’ve been fantastic and I’ll never forget that.”

“ Also would like to wish all the lads the best this season and beyond. They’re a hard working bunch and deserve all the success they get and more. It’s hard to leave but I need to start enjoying my rugby again. Thank you for everything.”

Forster has recently undergone a clean-out operation on his shoulder and isn’t ready to hit the ground running.

But Haven general manager Amanda Hewer said: “Carl is just itching to get started and play again so we will continue to monitor the situation, even if it’s for part of the Super Eights.”

Forster has signed an 18-month contract with the west Cumbrians who will be advertising for a new coach next week to replace James Coyle when he stands down at the end of the season.