Reds Boss Billy Barr is Building His Squad Ahead of the Friendlies Workington Reds Boss Billy Barr Discusses Team Building Ahead of Pre-Season
Marra Mode is how we'd tell you this in the Co-op. Switch it off for the straight version.
Billy Barr is out scouting for fresh legs to boost the Reds before the pre-season kicks off. With a massive game against Carlisle coming up, he's making sure the lads are ready.
It's been a bit of a rollercoaster summer down at Borough Park. Workington Reds boss Billy Barr is working overtime to rebuild the squad after a few heavy blows. We've lost some massive local names already—Dav Symington has hung up his boots, Swinglehurst has moved on, and now Jordan Little has announced the travel is too much and he won't be back in a Reds shirt next season.
But it isn't all bad news. Barr has managed to lock down Isaac Whitehall for another year, which is massive. The lad brings pure class to the midfield, and Barr reckons he's going to be the heart of the team this year. Even better, after a few weeks of negotiating in the clubhouse, captain Brad Carroll has officially signed on the dotted line to lead the lads again.
The big question mark hovering over the club right now is Steven Rigg. Riggy played through the pain barrier with a bad knee last season, and right now, he's waiting on medical advice before he decides if he can actually keep playing. Everyone is crossing their fingers for him, but Barr has admitted they just have to give him time to figure it out.
With the massive pre-season friendly against Carlisle United creeping closer, Barr isn't sitting around waiting. He was down in Chorley this week scouting a showcase event run by former Carlisle striker Andy Preece, looking to poach some fresh young legs to fill the gaps in the squad. Let's hope he found a few hidden gems!
Manager Billy Barr has been actively scouting young talent at a recent showcase event in Chorley as the club prepares for a highly anticipated friendly against Carlisle United.
Workington Reds manager Billy Barr is actively reshaping his squad ahead of the 2026/27 Northern Premier League season, navigating a challenging summer that has seen several key departures from Borough Park. The club recently confirmed that former player of the year Jordan Little will not be returning next season due to the travel commitments, following the exits of Stephen Swinglehurst and the retirement of Dav Symington.
Despite the setbacks, Barr has secured vital returning talent. The club announced the crucial re-signing of 24-year-old former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Isaac Whitehall. Barr expressed his delight, noting that Whitehall brought "quality and calmness" to the team last season and will be a "massive part" of the football club moving forward. The Reds boss has also successfully negotiated the return of captain Brad Carroll, who committed to the new season after extensive talks.
However, the club is still awaiting a final medical verdict on forward Steven Rigg, who continues to assess a persistent knee injury that plagued his previous campaign.
To bolster the ranks, Barr recently attended a player showcase event in Chorley, hosted by former Carlisle United striker Andy Preece. With the pre-season friendlies looming—including a highly anticipated clash against Carlisle United—Barr is evaluating several young trialists who caught his eye at the showcase to finalize his squad for the new campaign.