Workington Town hope to appoint a new coach in the next 10 days.

The club and head coach Dave Clark parted company nearly three weeks ago and applications for the vacant coaching position closed yesterday.

The Town board was due to draw up a shortlist of favoured candidates last night with a view to starting interviews this week.

Director of rugby Les Ashe said he was hopeful that the position could be filled in the next seven to 10 days.

Ashe said: "We've had 17 applications from the UK and beyond, including Australia and Ireland.

"The quality of all the applicants is first-class and there are some really experienced people among them.

"It's very satisfying for the board of what is still a League 1 club that the standard of applicants is so high.

"We had a board meeting last night where we will painstakingly go through all of the applications and narrow them down to a shortlist.

"It's an important role so it's imperative that we do our due diligence and get the right man."

Ashe said the club was still working its way through speaking to the squad about their plans for next season.

And although he admitted it was disappointing to lose experienced forward Kris Coward to rivals Whitehaven, he said it was part of the sport which had to be accepted.

"Whitehaven is his hometown club so maybe that's played a part," he added.

"It's disappointing to lose an experienced player, or any player really, but that's the nature of this game and the squad will never be the same year in, year out.

"But we do hope there will be far less disruption than there was last year with ins and outs, when I spoke to 88 players."