Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 10 April 2008

WORKINGTON Town coach Dave Rotheram is confident the wins are on their way.

Mark Routledge has been praised by Dave Rotheram

Town, who are yet to win a game in the league this season, travel to York on Sunday looking to kick-start their campaign.

Town have come close, losing by less than four points three times this season, and Rotheram believes the first win is just around the corner.

He said: “When you look at the games we have played, we have played well and not deserved to lose.

“There is a fine line between success and failure and at the moment we are on the wrong side.”

Town lost 24-20 last weekend to Blackpool and Rotheram is keen to get that first, elusive, win on the board.

He said: “We have been unlucky at times this season, but last weekend’s performance was the worst of the season.

“There were a few harsh words said after the game and the lads responded brilliantly. We had the best training session of the season on Tuesday night.

“The lads believe that the first win is around the corner and so do I.

“At the moment, it’s a case of short-term pain but long term gain as when we get the first win on the board then the others will follow.

“We are a good team and we are more than capable of beating a lot of teams in this division.”

Rotheram paid tribute to his young side, as Forber, Routledge and Shaun Lunt are topping the points scorers this season, and all are under 23-years-old.

Rotheram said: “We have a really young squad and they are doing what I ask of them. It is very encouraging when you look at the top points scorers charts and you see Carl Forber, who has been fantastic this season, Shaun Lunt and Mark Routledge up there.

“Mark McCully has also been fantastic for us this season.

“Losing becomes a bit of a habit, like winning does so at the moment the problem is psychological.

“Once we are able to get past that then things will improve I know that and with the squad we have here it will happen sooner rather than later.”

New Aussie signing Chris Young and fellow forward Ryan Benjafield are both set to be available for this weekend’s trip to Yorkshire.

Before his move to West Cumbria, Young, a 6ft 1in, 16½-stone prop, said: “I just can't wait to get to Workington and get started.

“One of my ambitions is to play in Super League and this is a great opportunity for me to show what I can do,”

Town coach Dave Rotheram was delighted that the signing had eventually come off and said: “For me, it's a very big signing and he really wants to play and has bags of enthusiasm. He's young, can play prop or second-row, and is very ambitious, the type of player we are looking to bring to the club.”

Town’s stand-in joint boss of last season, Les Ashe, has re-joined his old mentor Ged Stokes as assistant coach at Whitehaven.

Ashe said: “I’m absolutely delight to be joining a club with the structures in place that Whitehaven have.

“I’m looking forward to working with a fantastic staff and I want to complement them.”

Ashe was released by Town when Rotheram took over as coach at Derwent Park.

Last season Ashe and Craig Barker acted as joint coaches for Town after the departure of Stoke. Ashe and Barker guided Town to fifth in the league.

Town Flyer - Monday, Peter Williams, Workington, C3426; Tuesday, Mrs Brown, Seaton, B4983; Wednesday, Diane Hogan, Workington, B2495; yesterday, Susan Hodgson, Arlecdon, D1401; tonight, Mrs Lonergan, Seaton, B9668.