Last updated 15:51, Wednesday, 13 February 2008

PAUL Crarey’s Whitehaven vs Dave Rotheram’s Workington – who would have thought it, least of all them.

They certainly didn’t think they would be plotting each other’s downfall in the eagerly-awaited Ike Southward Memorial Trophy rugby league derby at Derwent Park this coming Sunday.

Even with access to a crystal ball, they would have rubbed their eyes at what fate had in store for the pair of them.

For the two men involved in this holiday coaching battle of wits it’s been a topsy-turvy year.

And for Rotheram, in particular, a veritable quirk of fate.

Maybe Paul Crarey fancied his chances of a tortuous trek down the coast to coach Whitehaven, but not as soon as, or in the manner, he has. Neither was there any way Dave Rotheram entertained thoughts of leaving Haven to join neighbours Workington Town.

Turn the clock back to mid-summer.

Within the space of a few weeks his Whitehaven team had jumped to the top of National League One, albeit briefly, and reached the final of the National League Cup. Everything in the Recre garden looked rosy for Haven – and Rotheram.

At that time you’d have put money on the head coach getting the extension he wanted to his two-year contract but it all ended in tears.

With a fourth-place finish Dave felt he’d still earned the right to stay on, some agreed, others including the Board of Directors (collectively) didn’t and so it’s left to him to try his luck with the old enemy.

Town’s renaissance is long overdue – and Rotheram could well be the man to turn things round, if he succeeds then the ex-Saint will be a Highside icon!

Crarey was equally miffed to find he was no longer wanted at Barrow although clearly his departure had nothing much to do with his coaching ability.

And equally, again, Crarey may well prove to be the man to complete all that “unfinished” business at Whitehaven.

Both men have something to prove, both want to win on Sunday, especially because it’s a local derby and the match is to honour the memory of one of Britain’s greatest post-war wingers.

Perhaps Dave Rotheram wants to win it more for obvious reasons, but as he says: “It’s not about me, it’s about the players and our performance. There’s no pressure on us, we will be the underdogs but I’d like to think we can win.

“The last time Town won the local derby was in February 2005. In two National Rail Cup ties last season they shipped just over a hundred points, but now I’m on the other side of the fence and it’s up to me and the rest of the coaching team to close the gap.”

Can Town do so sufficiently to go on and join Haven in National League One for 2009? Cautiously ‘top three’ is all DR will commit himself on at this state but he expects to be judged by results which he feels that in final analysis at Whitehaven he wasn’t! With a win ratio the envy of most NLI coaches, Dave felt he’d done enough to stay on but the directors wanted a change with a new mantra: winning with more joy.

A results-driven game tends to favour the pragmatic over the rugby purist but I’m not betting against Paul Crarey to buck the trend.

His mandate is to continue to deliver results while providing a more entertaining brand of football which the directors feel the fans demand and deserve.

While both teams will be under-strength on Sunday, there’s no lack of interest in a derby game which remains meaningful, not just the local bragging rights. From Whitehaven’s point of view, it’s a chance for the fans to run the rule over at least two of the new signings: flying winger Ade Adebesi and utility-back Liam Finch, both with pace to quicken the pulse. The two Down Under captures, prop Karl Edmondson and powerful Tongan centre Siai Makesi, will arrive shortly just in time for the Northern Rail Cup. But this weekend Paul Crarey will seize the opportunity to try a few combinations, blood some youngsters and hopefully show us a few glimpses of the football fayre to hopefully savour throughout 2008.

Especially as Paul Crarey’s innovative training sessions have opened more than a few eyes.

“I am amazed,” said Haven’s football director Ken Shepherd. “I’ve seen a lot of comings and goings over the years but what I’m seeing at the moment is an education for me, also I am sure to many of our players.

“You just have to stand there and physically feel the vibes and enthusiasm, the players are enthused and it’s really exciting. Things are looking good but it’s what happens on the field of play that counts.”

So here’s to an eye-opening Sunday.