Paul Crarey has been quick to hand out praise in other directions after being announced as League One Coach of the Year by Rugby League Express readers.
Head coach Crarey led Barrow to the championship and promotion last season.
But he said: “I’m just the frontman at the club and I have a superb coaching staff and backroom staff behind me. Of course, it’s also a reflection on the quality of the players we have and the strength of the board.”
Crarey received 35.7% of the vote, finishing ahead of Doncaster’s Richard Horne (23.7%), Workington’s Chris Thorman (17.8%), North Wales and former Barrow coach and player Anthony Murray (14.9%) and Coventry’s Richard Squires (7.9%).
The Barrow squad was back in training last night ahead of their opening friendly at home on Sunday to Workington Town who finished runners up to them last season.
It’s the first of three friendly games for the Raiders before they start for real at the end of the month with the opening Betfred Championship game against Sheffield.
“We are going to be dictated to, like everyone else in rugby league, by the COVID situation. At the moment we have 19 players available for selection but it seems to change day to day.
“The plan was to give everyone enough game time over the three friendlies but that is going to depend on health issues more than anything else,” said Crarey.
While Crarey topped the Express’ League One Coach of the Year poll, winger Theerapol Ritson topped the vote for League One Player of the Year.
Ritson, who broke a club record by scoring seven tries in the final game against West Wales, polled 26.1% of the vote.
Also getting votes were Jack Millen (Keighley, 21.9%), Matty Beharrell (Doncaster, 20.5%), Rob Massam (North Wales 17.6%) and Jamie Doran (Workington 13.9%).
