New Zealander Ged Stokes has been named as the new coach of National League One club Whitehaven following the decision of Paul Crarey to stand down due to ill health.

Stokes, a former coach of New Zealand A, was sacked by Cumbrian neighbours Workington last April after a row with a visiting supporter during the club's Northern Rail Cup game with Barrow two months earlier.

An RFL inquiry into the incident cleared Stokes of any wrong-doing but, following a subsequent Workington disciplinary hearing, he was dismissed for gross misconduct and the club later agreed a £14,000 pay-off.

Stokes, who remained in the area to follow the career of his cricketing son, has been appointed by Whitehaven until the end of the 2008 season.

Crarey, who succeeded Dave Rotheram at the start of this season, suffered an angina attack in the wake of his team's surprise home defeat by Batley on Easter Monday and was admitted to hospital.

A former hooker with Barrow and Carlisle, Crarey took over as coach of Barrow in 2005 and remained in charge until the end of last season, combining his rugby league duties with running his own roofing business.

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