UNDER pressure Swinton Lions coach Les Holliday was given a timely helping hand this week when former Great Britain star Mike Gregory was appointed as his assistant.

The ex-Warrington captain replaces Martin Birkett who stepped down last week due to work commitments and will take up his new role on Monday.

The Lions hope his Super League experience, as assistant to Shaun McRae at St Helens for three years, will change the fortunes of the struggling Gigg Lane side.

"This is a great signing for the club," said chief executive Tony Barrow. "Mike will give the whole team a lift and his Super League knowledge will be priceless.

"There is no question we are in a bad patch at the moment but hopefully this will give us a spark."

The Lions suffered their sixth defeat out of nine Northern Ford Premiership matches on Sunday when they crashed 24-31 at home to Barrow.

This weekend they face the unenviable task of a trip to Widnes, who have won six from nine.

"It's not the best time to be playing them, but we have got to get on with it," added Barrow.

"It will be a hard game because Widnes, like us, have their sights set on Super League next year. If we can hit our straps we might just do it. Nobody expected us to win at Whitehaven but we pulled it off."

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