Gilmour lands coaching role at Wildcats

Lee Gilmour has been appointed assistant coach on a two-year contract.

Dewsbury-born Gilmour, who joined the Wildcats on loan from Castleford Tigers in May and has played in their last 11 matches, will join head coach James Webster and Stuart Dickens on the club’s backroom staff from 2015 but will continue to be available to play.

The 35-year-old former Wigan, Bradford, St Helens, Huddersfield and Castleford second rower was out of the game for almost 12 months with shoulder and knee injuries before making his comeback with the Wildcats.

He is keen to get into coaching but is not yet ready to hang up his boots.

Gilmour said: “Physically I feel fine. “I’ve really enjoyed it here. I had a tough year not playing but I got an opportunity to start again here.

“We’ll see how things go next year, a lot will depend on the squad we finish up with.

“I coached Shaw Cross, my local amateur team, for about seven years, and I’ve been under some really good coaches over the years so hopefully I can pass some of that knowledge on.”

Webster, who stepped up from the role of assistant coach when Richard Agar left the club in June, said: “I’ve been really pleased with what Lee has offered in his time here.

“His insight into the game has been very good and the knowledge and ideas he has are fantastic.

“I think you’d find it hard to find a more experienced player still involved in the the game.

“Lee is always keen to strap on his boots but he’s coming as coach first. Should he ever want to play, he’ll be able to.”

Wakefield will be without captain Danny Kirmond for the rest of the season after he was booked in for operations on both hands and a knee.