I PROBABLY share the same emotions as a lot of our supporters with the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is sad and massively frustrating.

We have to be respectful that a lot of people have lost lives but at the same time I’m sure everyone is just praying that normality returns.

Looking back at the very brief start to the campaign I thought we were in the perfect position to make a strong challenge for promotion. We had successfully come through our friendly campaign with steady improvements. We blooded a lot of amateur dual registration players and youngsters in those games and when we eventually got started we were looking good.

We were victorious against London Skolars in the cup and both Doncaster and Coventry in the league and the cup defeat at Featherstone was hardly a blip as we gave the unbeaten Championship side their toughest test to date.

The injury situation was the best it had been for a couple of years and we were ready, virtually at full strength for our next fixture.

Off the field we had announced some ground breaking initiatives with every single child in South Cumbria in receipt of a season ticket and plans to hold festival days of rugby with all those supporters arriving before the support fixtures gaining free entry. Our community team had increased numbers with the addition of Tee Ritson and Ruth Parker and there was a whole community plan in place to build on our success from the Love Barrow Awards.

We had been recognised by the governing body, the RFL, who had provided grants and the town’s major employer, BAE Systems, had become a supporter of the programme.

Financially we were in a decent position. The board, together with both the Supporters Trust and Auxiliary Branch, had been working tremendously hard to open up multiple income streams from events, fundraisers, sponsors, lottery and grants.

We were hoping that some sort of financial stability had returned after a couple of tough years.

The hope is that we can quickly pick up the baton when that normality does return and we continue all the good work we have been doing.

Communication and treating people with respect is the key for me and my hope is that this time has afforded some reflection and everyone comes back with a focus to grow and re-establish this club as a Championship force. I’m sure all our tremendous supporters will be together with us on that journey.