I don’t agree with all this BS of let’s just give whoever is chosen a chance. We’ve made far too many poor decisions regarding coaches for as long as I can remember. Sheens was the only one who gave this fan base a little bit of a boost and I believe that was our best squad-wise since relegation. Unfortunately curtailed due to covid and then he walked which sounded alarm bells.
littler would be an awful appointment, regarding his spells at other clubs there is no expectation at Swinton nor Oldham, and yea, maybe we’re not as big a name as we used to be or the pull that we once had however we cannot drop to those levels otherwise it’s bust for this club. Season ticket numbers drop year on year and if littler is appointed I seriously a worry about the sign ups for next season. The lower the sign ups the lower the budget until we fall into more decline than we already have.
I don’t know who the answer is but Stuart littler isn’t it. I’d rather take a punt on Duffy however his full time cushy position in the wigan academy would be hard to pull him away from.
other than that Danny ward would be my choice
@scouseviking55 couldn’t agree more. Have said previously Littler was a bang average player and is even worse as a coach. What poor ambition. Shows how far we’ve fallen.
Also sounds like it’s Hamilton getting his pals in to me…
It would unimpressive but it hasn't happened yet.The only place I've seen the Littler rumour is on here.I stand corrected though.
@scouseviking55 and there lies the problem with ye standard Widnes fan "I don't believe a coach should be given a chance" ..... embarrassing comment tbh ...I agree totally there's better coaches out there but it's total n utter delusion to think we could draw a ward..Marshall or Duffy ....the clubs a mess n theres a large chunk of fans that are a complete embarrassment n any half decent coach will look at it n think fk that ...the crowds are down for numerous reasons...one being fans walking away because "he's not worth a chance'.......biggest issue hasn't mainly been coach appointments ..it's been more the fact player recruitment year on year is dreadful...paying ex SLplayers that flop or quit...keeping players that should have gone ages ago ...signing bang average players ...can have the best coach in the world but if your players are gash ...it's hopeless...I for one will back whoever the new coach is ..up until he's proven to be crap ...till then ....
It's difficult to say, I'm sure Wigan fans weren't ecstatic about Peet but he's proved otherwise. Sometimes it just clicks. Who knows?
Cumbria Viking we have bought some gash players and that hasn't helped. The problem is keeping some players too long like Craven and Owens. Lyons has done okay and Gilmore has been injured for a large chunk of this season. Hopefully next year Gilmore stays fit, but we need another number 6 who is durable. Possibly Lyons okay for back up if cheap only. Next year need some strong ugly props and learn from teams like Batley and Sheffield who do decent in this division.
This year I do not think we are far off having a decent team who could compete regularly in the top 4.
The lack of durable and rugged props has been our weakness for a while tbh - they should be our 'must have' signing.
Fingers crossed the new coach sorts this out mate. Hookers and 2nd rowers not too bad our players it is props and halfback strengths, and possibly a strong fullback and centre for depth in squad required.
Whoever is appointed coach has to be given a chance, but realistically have we the resources to be any more than a mid-table Championship team?
Our best, if unlikely, hope this season is to grab a play-off spot; and I wouldn't bet any money on us having a better squad for 2024, with the same limited ambition of aiming for a play-off spot - and probably failing in that ambition by mid-season.
The Club tell us that there has been interest in the position of Coach, but only rumours coming out. Perhaps Hamilton should provide an update - Have they interviewed any candidates? When was the closing date for applications? Has the post been offered to anyone? Who will actually be making the appointment?
The most persistent rumour appears to be Littler. According to comments on here, his track record is not good and he seems no better than our previous appointments in recent years, but perhaps that is the standard we should expect to attract, with a similar standard of players.
It seems that Hamilton has been brought in to gear the Club to meet IMG criteria for SL, but if we can't attract players to build a team able to compete at the top of the Championship, what purpose does he serve. Maybe what we are paying Hamilton would be better spent in bringing a top quality Coach. After all if we have any SL ambitions, the most important element is a winning team on the pitch.
If the Club is in a reasonably healthy financial position as Hamilton has suggested, with savings on not replacing players during the season, still relatively decent crowds and the money to come from VIQI/VIP, why haven't any new signings/retentions been announced. If the Club could could announce an ambitious coach appointment and/or signings for 2024, maybe the fan base can be retained/improved for 2024.
You're taking the criticism far too personally Cumbria Viking. The new coach,whoever it may be,will start with a clean slate and the support of the fans.Just because some of us are less than enthusiastic about the prospect of Littler doesn't mean he would be booed and pelted with rotten vegetables as he takes his seat at the first game.
Most coaches dream of a squad that has ability and stays fit. That has to be your starter! Ideally the incoming coach would want to choose his players. That gives the coach a fair chance of getting somewhere based on our achievements under his direction.
Iirc the great Sir Dougie succinctly explained it that 'the coach can improve the team by 10%, but if the team is se he will only gain 10% of se!!!'
JK didn't need to prove anything to anyone and has a variety of other small jobs to play at without losing anything from his time here.
Our pride in our club is pretty well covered by our support, and hopefully that will continue, but we don't have the same pulling power as we once had to encourage players or coaches to come to us without some sort of long term contract (for the coach).
Heard a new name at the game today to add to the new coach rumour mix. Allan Coleman, the current Swinton coach. He was at, I think, our game against Bradford the other week. I didn’t think much of it until his name was mentioned today.
@pauliewalnuts fair enough mate, I don't think I made my point as clear as I intended. What I was trying to say was that for a number of years we've made the same mistakes over and over again.
Signing injury prone players with poor fitness records.
Signing small front rowers or playing back rowers as props.
Resigning former players who had previously been released by us, just because they're from the town.
This has happened with at least the last 4 coaches, so I was trying to say if it was just endemic with the administrative side of the club, a new face wouldn't be a bad call. I personally am concerned about Hamiltons history, but wouldn't criticise the board for trying to change the status quo
Daryl Powell and Ryan Sheridan now added to the mix.