Darren Holt confirms retirement

Barrow coach Darren Holt has confirmed his retirement from rugby league having led the Raiders to promotion from Championship 1.

The 36-year-old has combined playing with coaching this season, and feels it is very much a case of job done after their place in the top four was mathematically confirmed by Whitehaven’s defeat of Rochdale last weekend.

He 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.”

Barrow host Oldham this weekend, looking for another three points to help their push towards the league title.

Holt added: “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.”