PAUL Crarey feels a renewed sense of optimism around Barrow Raiders as the squad start to build towards the first matches in pre-season.

It has been an off-season of change at Craven Park, with talismanic prop Joe Bullock joining Super League side Wigan Warriors, and the Raiders bidding farewell to other long-standing team members like Andy Litherland, Matty While and Ryan Fieldhouse.

But the club have made some eye-catching signings too, not least in adding some extra steel to the pack with the signing of Gareth Hock and bringing in trio of Papua New Guinea internationals.

Exciting prospects Jake Spedding, Deon Cross and Tee Ritson have strengthened the back line too, along with half-back Jake Carter stepping up from the Furness Raiders.

The Raiders are free of off-the-field issues too and head coach Crarey, whose faith was underlined by signing a new two-year contract after deliberating whether to stay on after the 2018 Betfred Championship season, is delighted with how the first month of pre-season has unfolded.

“There’s a buzz around the place and they’re all buying into it, and they’re training really hard – probably harder than last year in terms of what we’re doing and the commitment from the players,” said Crarey.

“We’re pleased as a club with how it’s gone and there’s a lot of positivity around the town when you go anywhere, so hopefully we can become a stable, mid-table Championship team if everything goes to plan.

“They’re all doing well. It’s been really intense and difficult.”

It is little under a month before Barrow’s 2019 team take to the field for the first time when now-traditional pre-season opponents Oldham make the trip to Craven Park on Sunday, January 13.

It will be Crarey’s first chance to see his new-look team in action and he will have plenty of options to choose from in how he blends the new signings with the core of the team from recent seasons who have signed new contracts.

The injury problems which blighted the Raiders in 2018 left them exposed in certain areas and much of the recruitment work done has been to ensure that is not an issue again.

“We’ve probably gone to a more professional side this year in terms of the players we’ve brought in and a more balanced team, using outside backs instead of second-rows there,” said Crarey.

“Hopefully we don’t have to revert back to last year where we were picking up so many injuries there and playing people out of position.”