Gavin Skelton has admitted it has been a whirlwind first week since taking over the reins at Workington Reds.

Skelton had his first match in charge on New Year’s Day and is back in the dugout this afternoon as Reds travel for a crunch match at Stafford Rangers, 3pm.

The new manager said he was pleased to be back at Borough Park and that he is hoping to add to the squad in the near future but it would be too soon to get people in ahead of today’s long trip to Staffordshire.

“It has been a long week,” admitted Skelton. “I feel like there was just so much happening with playing on New Year’s Day, it’s a manic time of the year anyway.

“There is a lot going on and, obviously, I have not settled yet but I’m really pleased to be back.”

Reds lost Skelton’s first match 2-1 at the hands of visitors Stalybridge Celtic and to add insult to injury Gari Rowntree and Dan Wordsworth were sent from the field so will face bans from next week.

Skelton is hoping to freshen up the squad with players who do not have the baggage of a poor season behind them as Reds look to move out of the Northern Premier League relegation zone.

He knows it will be a tough ask as Workington lie just one place above the foot of the table but he is up for the challenge.

And he added that there was still plenty of strength and talent in the squad already at Borough Park.

He added: “Recruitment is ongoing no matter what level you play at and it doesn’t help with the situation that we are in but I am looking.

“I have been making enquiries but I think it will be too soon for this game but, hopefully in the next seven to 10 days, we might be able to bring some players in to freshen things up.

“That is nothing against the players we already have in the squad but these players won’t be carrying any baggage and that might just help.”

Today’s opponents Stafford are also sitting near the bottom of the Northern Premier League but they have just strengthened their squad with the addition of former Wolves left-back Matt Hill.

Hill has also had Football League experience with the likes of Wolves, Preston, Sheffield Utd and QPR.

When the two sides met in the opening fixture of the season, it was Reds who came out on top with a 1-0 victory at Borough Park and the travel today hoping that they can do the double.

Reds will welcome back Josh Calvert for this game although Kyle May and Matty Douglas will miss out as they serve the last game of their respective suspensions.