Holt confirms retirement

Barrow Raiders coach Darren Holt has confirmed he will not play again this season and has now officially retired from the sport.

The news comes ahead of the Raiders Co-operative Championship 1 meeting with Oldham

Holt said: "I've called it a day now. We've got promotion and I'm 36. It's the right time.

"I wanted to call it a day a couple of years back, and I kept getting talked into doing another year. I'm glad I did, but now's the time to concentrate on coaching."

Jack Pedley is doubtful for Barrow, with Holt now setting his sights on claiming the title.

Holt said: "It's there to be won. We're currently two points clear, and if we win all our games we win the league.

"We've got four big games coming up. Oldham beat us earlier in the year, but we haven't been beaten at home this season and we want to keep that going."

Oldham pair Mark McCulley (knee) and Miles Greenwood (back) both face late fitness tests.

Roughyeds coach Tony Benson said: "We've found our feet again, and our focus now is on pushing on and getting as good as we can before the play-offs.

"We started the season by beating Workington and Barrow, and we want to get back to that."