CLITHEROE will kick off the new season in the Raging Bull North West League following a summer shake-up.

The Littlemoor club has decided to opt out of the newly-formed RFU Lancashire North Division - but have vowed to be back.

Clitheroe, who played in North Lancs Two last season which has been merged with North Lancs One, hope that taking a few steps back will see them move forward in the next few years.

In effect, they have dropped four divisions and will now compete in Division Three North in the Raging Bull League. Clitheroe begin their campaign at Oldham Seconds on Saturday.

“I can see why they made the change it but it wasn’t for us,” said head coach Roger Holmes. “We were calling for something to be done because last season we had far too many free weekends because of lack of teams.

“They have regionalised the division more to cut down on travel but it means they have merged with a lot stronger teams from the division above.

“So we made the decision to come out of the league and try and work our way up again. The aim is to get back up there with in the next few seasons.”

Holmes hopes the move will see Clitheroe competing at the top, rather than the bottom, of the table - they finished seventh out of eight in North Lancs Two last season, winning just three games.

“We want to be in the promotion mix come the end of season,” added Holmes. “It would be great to bring back the feel good factor to the club. Being part of a winning team challenging at the top of the team would be a great boost for confidence and will lift everyone around the club.”

Richard Few, a dynamic scrum half who moved up to the area from Aylesbury last season, will captain the team while outside half Dave Kenyon and full back Mark Jackson have also been recruited.

The club have also been working with Fylde player/coach Alex Loney, who teaches at Stonyhurst College, and Fylde captain Chris Briers who have been taking coaching sessions at Littlemoor.

“The players have taken a lot out of these sessions,” said Holmes. “Mainly, they don’t have to listen to my voice all the time!

“But if freshens training sessions up and the players, and myself, are picking up new things all the time. Hopefully we can use those going forward this season.”