ILKLEY'S head of rugby Rhys Morgan has admitted that his side are looking to strengthen both their playing and coaching staff this summer, but after putting in a quick phone call, he has already secured a stunning short-term appointment.

After speaking to Morgan, former Bradford Bulls legend Jimmy Lowes has agreed to help out the North Premier League club for an initial period of eight weeks in pre-season on Thursday evenings.

Lowes has parted company with Yorkshire Carnegie after a shake-up and his arrival now brings the Lowes contingent at Ilkley to two, with Jimmy's son Joe playing flanker for the side.

Morgan laughed: "We've got a young man helping us out by the name of Jimmy Lowes. Obviously he won the Man of Steel award for Bulls twice and he's coached them and Leeds Rhinos.

"He's going to come in and help us and give us that experience. It's really important to us and shows we're heading in the right direction.

"To bring someone in of Jimmy Lowes' calibre shows our intentions, and that we're not just going to slip away quietly in this league."

One man with experience who has departed the club is first team and forwards coach, Nathan Smith. However, there was a last minute change to his destination.

Morgan explained: "He was going to go to Yorkshire Carnegie but he has now been accepted a job as defensive coach for Loughborough Students in National League One.

"The problem was Carnegie are still restructuring and they weren't able to give him a clearcut answer about a role there, so he had to move for the offer that was more sustainable and definite.

"He's done a great job at Ilkley. He's helped us to develop our phase play and his reviews and previews of games have been exceptional. We're gutted to be losing him but we're really proud."

Morgan feels that the club need to bring in a couple of coaches to replace Smith and he believes that the playing squad needs strengthening too.

Andy Dixon, Will Clarke, Luke Pearson and Ryan Gibson have all come into the club in recent weeks, but the Ilkley supremo has identified where further additions need to be made.

Dixon has taken departing scrum-half Jack Maplesden's place, but Ilkley are yet to find a replacement for influential full back Ben Magee, who has joined Otley.

Morgan said: "The forward pack is looking good and is stronger than last year with our additions but we are targeting the outside backs, and looking to recruit in the 15-11 area.

"Getting somebody who fits the bill as player/coach in that area would be perfect as we need to replace Nathan and strengthen out wide."

Meanwhile, he was wary of judging the new teams in the league, saying: "I try not to get too carried away until we see how they're faring as you don't know what you're getting.

"You might get a team that have the intention of going straight through the league or who have recruited really well. They might have also had players leave.

"It would be great to catch out some teams who are still adjusting to the speed of the league, but they might have a winning mentality from last year. It might be better to play them at Christmas, when injuries and squad depth are a factor.

"You have to be open-minded, take it one match at a time and try and find out as much information as possible about these teams in the weeks before the game."

After a meeting and social gathering at the club next Thursday, Ilkley begin their pre-season training again on July 3.