TONY Caig was among the Workington squad members who took part in the first pre-season training session on Saturday.

Carlisle United want Caig, who is their goal-keeping coach, to double-up as a player as cover for ex-Reds keeper Adam Collin and until rookie Mark Gillespie is considered ready for first-team action.

But the 36-year-old keeper has another year on his Workington contract and Carlisle have not been back to the west Cumbrian club in response to Reds’ chairman Humphrey Dobie telling them what he was looking for in compensation.

The first training session was light of Andy Langford, Steve Hindmarch and Dan Shannon – members of last year’s squad who have been away on holiday.

Hindmarch, whose brother Paul is professional, has been keeping fit and in trim playing for Keswick cricket club during the summer and recently scored a century.

Manager Darren Edmondson has arranged for four trialists to take part in pre-season training, and one of them – a former Football League striker – was there for the opening session.

A second ex-League striker – released by his club last month – is due to travel from Lancashire to attend tomorrow night’s follow-up session.

The Workington manager would like to add four or five players to his squad ahead of the 2010/11 season but so far has not completed a deal.

The opening friendly at Gretna on July 8 gives Reds another four sessions before they actually get to grips with on-field opposotion. That’s followed by a visit from Gateshead on Saturday, July 10 and then a follow-up home game on the Tuesday against Carlisle United.

Reds are also planning to reveal the completion of major sponsorship deals on Friday when the fixtures for the new Blue Square Bet North season are to be released.

---

Bookmark with: what are these?