Dave Allen, Whitehaven’s player of the year last season, has re-signed in a major demonstration of intent by the Recreation Ground club.

Allen, 31, outstanding in what eventually proved to be a relegation campaign for Whitehaven, is currently preparing for Ireland’s 2017 World Cup campaign.

Whitehaven chairman Tommy Todd said: “I think this is a massive signing for the club and demonstrates how competitive we want to be in 2017.

“Dave had a great season and came right to the fore late on when he was part of the group with Carl Forster, who were in charge after James Coyle left.

“I think he enjoyed working with Carl and now that we have appointed him coach Dave, he wants to continue playing under his direction."

“Needless to say, Dave had plenty of other offers for his services next season, so it’s very pleasing that he has decided to stay put with Whitehaven," Todd aded.

“I would just like to pay tribute to our football committee, who have been working tremendously hard over the last few weeks and have supported our coach in putting together a strong squad of players.”

Recently, Allen was called-up to the Ireland squad for next year’s World Cup European Pool B qualifiers and, at the weekend, was confirmed in their final squad of 22.

Allen is the latest to be confirmed in Forster’s Whitehaven squad for life in League One following the arrival of St Benedict’s rugby union centre Kurt Maudling.

A Cumbria county player, Maudling was a key member of the Saints’ side which won the North Lancs Cumbria League title, losing only one game, while retaining the Cumbria Cup and also reaching the Twickenham final of the national Intermediate Cup.