ROSSENDALE have recruited a Fijian flyer and a Rugby League World Cup star as they begin a new chapter under Danny Collins who takes over as player/head coach.

There have been changes on and off the pitch as Collins looks to make his stamp at the Marl Pits club.

Anthony Bingham, last season’s leading try scorer who played for Lancashire at Twickenham, has left to join Fylde while talented young backs, Tom Bedlow and Sam Lothian, have gone to Sedgeley Park and Kane Bevan has joined Preston Grasshoppers.

In come utility back Fijian Sam Atiola, who has signed from Beverley, and Alex Hirst who was a member of the Scotland squad at the Rugby League World Cup.

Rossendale have also signed second row Tom Jones from Sedgley Park while prop Ian Marshall has rejoined the club.

Collins, who has been a key member of the coaching and playing staff for a number of years takes over the main role from Tim Fourie.

And with the help of Mark Nelson - the Lancashire coach who has been working with Dale - he has set his sights on promotion out of National League Three North.

“We are going to go all out for promotion this season,” said Collins who takes his team to Wirral for the opening game of the season on Saturday. “We have been there or thereabouts in recent years and the aim is to give it a real good go.”

Collins said it was sad to see the likes of Bingham leave but he and his fellow ex-Dale players leave with the club’s blessing.

However, he doesn’t believe the squad has been weakened thanks to the players who have been brought in.

“Anthony scored a lot of tries for us last season and he will be missed,” said Collins. “But he wanted to test himself at a high level and who can blame him.

“He leaves with our blessing and we wish him all the best, as we do Tom, Sam and Kane.”

But the new head coach - who will continue to play - is excited about the new players who have come in.

“I think Sam Atiola is a like-for-like replacement for Anthony,” he said. “He can play at centre and on the wing and is very quick. Alex was a member of the Scotland squad at the Rugby League World Cup so he brings a lot of talented to the squad.

“I don’t think we have been weaken-ed, if anything, we are stronger.”