MATT Farr will challenge Winnington Park’s players to show the commitment that’s needed to turn around the first team’s fortunes.

A previous captain at Burrows Hill, where he was part of three sides that won the Cheshire RFU Cup in the 1990s, the former centre has been appointed as head coach.

He replaces Roger Pickering, who resigned last month before accepting an offer to join Northwich.

Farr inherits a group that finished sixth last term in South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two – the lowest level the club has played at.

They had been relegated at the end of the previous campaign too.

“I don’t know the lads that well,” said the 48-year-old.

“But I did see them play last season, and one of the first things that struck me is they need to communicate better, to talk to each other.

“That tends to happen when confidence is low, and you’re losing matches.

“We need to change that; a winning team is often a happier one, and you’re more likely to win if you’re enjoying what you do.

“There is work to do, I know that, if we want to get moving in the right direction.

“But I wouldn’t have accepted the invitation to take the job on if I didn’t think that was something we can achieve.”

He told the Guardian followers can expect a pragmatic team next term.

The league is an uncompromising one, and substance is likely to be more effective than style if Winnington are to be promoted.

Farr added: “It will be horses for courses.

“I know the places we’ve got to go to; there’s no point turning up at Dukinfield and expecting to win an arm-wrestle, for example.

“You’ve got to make them do what they don’t want to, and there that means throwing the ball around to get them on the move.”

Dave Allcock, a former teammate of Farr at Park, has agreed to fill a newly-created vacancy for director of rugby.