Shot-stopper Alex Mitchell is back at Workington Reds and hoping to help the club return to the Northern Premier League at the first attempt.

Aaran Taylor, Reds’ No1 last season is heading in the opposite direction, to Scottish League Two outfit Annan Athletic.

Carlisle-based Mitchell is returning for a second spell with Reds, under new manager Danny Grainger.

The 28-year-old first arrived at Borough Park in the summer of 2015 and shared the goalkeeping duties with Jonny Jamieson. He aided Reds as they reached the 2015-16 play-off final and made 36 starts (plus a further 18 appearances on the bench), keeping 16 clean sheets and saving one penalty in the process.

His career originally began at Carlisle United where he was a member of the Blues’ successful FA Youth Cup team of the 2007-08 season which famously knocked Manchester United out of the competition.

Team-mates of Mitchell that night included several players who subsequently represented Reds at various points of their respective careers – Dan Wordsworth, Tom Aldred, Jonny Blake, Stephen Hindmarch, Andy Cook, Conor Tinnion and Jonny Jamieson.

After leaving Brunton Park, he signed for Gretna 2008 before switching to Annan Athletic and making over 100 appearances in his first spell at Galabank.

The season at Workington followed before he returned to Annan in 2016 where he has played regularly since. He helped the Black and Golds reach the play-offs last season.

Manager Grainger has now confirmed his own status by signing a 12 month contract with the club.

Before going on a family holiday, Grainger put pen to paper on a deal with the option of an extra year.

And on his return, the squad will report back for training with Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday sessions planned before the pre-season friendlies get under way.

The Northern Premier League annual general meeting is scheduled for Saturday where Reds’ opponents for the 2019-20 campaign will be ratified.