I agree to a certain extent, but how long would Sheens remain here with his age, I always thought it will be a 2 year job then he’d leave. That is why I wasn’t overly excited.
Absolutely valid point. What did good look like for Tim Sheens? Ultimately, he gets us back into SL and does another couple of years and hands over the reigns? He may have done 2 years and gone back home regardless. Ideally, having someone like Matty Smith with aspirations to coach long term could have been the ideal transition, however this rarely happens generally even though it should.
Considering this year was suppose to be about building for the following season, and even possibly the following season was building job (2021) It seemed a little bit shortsighted to appoint a coach was almost 70 for a job that was going to be a minimum 2 years of championship rugby at the least.
Most coaches stay at clubs for less than 3 years anyway so it was inevitable with his age and his personal situation that he was going to stay for 2-3 years max, Widnes now need a young manager with good pedigree to build and mold a squad capable of challenging for SL.
Two coaches who did that? Henderson (who beats london million pound game winning squad) and Marshall who while at Halifax, built a top 4 team. Another shout would be Smith, the ex manager of bradford, he appeared an up and coming manager.
If we could get Marshall, that would be a good appointment.
Same with Henderson.
What are people's thoughts on Paul Rowley? I think despite the negative stuff he would be a good coach for us.
I would like Ford from York, but can't see him leaving there at this point.
If we could get Marshall, that would be a good appointment. Same with Henderson. What are people’s thoughts on Paul Rowley? I think despite the negative stuff he would be a good coach for us. I would like Ford from York, but can’t see him leaving there at this point.
Watson is getting deserved plaudits for what he has done at Salford, the players speak highly of him as well bit IMO it's no coincidence that their change in form occurred at exactly the same time Rowley joined the club
I mentioned him last year prior to sheens appointment, got a lot of negative responses on here but again IMO he has done a good job wherever he has been and would be well worth a shot
Rowley plays on a siege mentality, and to some extent it works in RL. I think Shaun Wane coaches this way but Wane is on another level than anyone at this approach.
Marshall was turned down from the job when he applied and Purtil got it, so there is no way he'd leave Saints to coach part time Championship. I'm sure he'd rather work towards a full time head coach post.
Why did we give Sheens the job? I think it was too good an opportunity to turn down. It's a real shame that the team he was building won't take to the pitch under him, as it was intriguing how it would go. Widnes is still a big name in RL, on both sides of the globe, I'd hope there will be plenty of takers for the job.
Until the club are open about why Sheens has left, who his replacement will be is purely speculation. Can we afford to pay enough to attract a decent experienced coach? Can we afford to pay for an Assistant Coach or other specialist support? Will someone at another club in a "relatively" safe job eg Watson, Henderson, Rowley, Marshall etc come to a club just out of Administration and surviving on the long stretched loyalty of fans?
Maybe a player coach is the answer - Smith?, who would need some other coaching staff around him.
At least for me retaining Sheens and seeing what he was doing at the club, has been some hope that things would improve. I think his resignation and the impact on the club could be devastating for the future of the club, unless the club get it right, both with an explanation as to the reason for him leaving - to retain the trust and loyalty of fans who have backed the club to date - and his replacement, who needs to be someone able to build on the promising rebuilding programme started by Sheens. I am pessimistic, but live in hope of watching an entertaining and winning Widnes team competing at the top end of the competition in 2021 and beyond.
If we could get Marshall, that would be a good appointment. Same with Henderson. What are people’s thoughts on Paul Rowley? I think despite the negative stuff he would be a good coach for us. I would like Ford from York, but can’t see him leaving there at this point.
York is a far more attractive job than Widnes at this point, that's the sad reality of the situation.
Wouldn't bother with Rowley. Don't think Henderson would leave Warrington for Widnes, when he's probably first in line to replace Price when he goes.
Marshall might consider it - though again, he may fancy his chances of impressing sufficiently enough to be part of Saints' plans post-Woolf. Did he leave part-time Halifax to eventually just wind up at part-time Widnes?
If there isn't a government handout again then there will be many clubs in all divisions that just go to the wall. They all have substantial costs and virtually 0 income. The players aren't going to hang around until this is all over as they all have bills to pay as well.
Widnes will be included in this.
Without help the game will be set back to the stone ages (Which will be in line with more than a couple of the grounds!!)
Well York have just announced another signing, everyone seems to be building, Sheffield have started pre season apparently
At the rate that games are being cancelled there is no certainty of any start to next season yet!
Testing will still be around next March and starting pre-season maybe good to get the lads busy, but they will be being paid, as presumably will ours. How sure would any club be that a fully trained player won't jump ship for a better offer next year?
This winter/ spring will test many things, finances, player loyalty, fan loyalty and the rest.
I think a wise decision, even if its a stop gap to tide us over, would be to try and get Marshall, Henderson or Rowley here and dual up with their SL team.
Nobody really knows whats happening with regards to below SL. So another year of staying stable is what we need. With the resources Leigh, London and Toulouse have and full time training with benefactors, we won't be able to compete with them. So I don't know why we would necessarily hunt for another Tom Sheens, YET.
If Hep stayed around, i think he would have been the ideal person.
Just s fine point, there won't be dual reg next year.
What does Briers do at Wire? Is he interested in coaching? Or Tomkins and Smithy on a dual coaching gig? Plenty of time to get something organised, but it will have to be cheap!
Much will depend on who will be available next year and just how many clubs survive. Can't see the wealthy backers shovelling cash down a dark hole all winter without some sort of plan for the future. The backer will be relying on income from a business and that might well be under threat.
Sean Long? Who has just been released by Harlequins?
https://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-agree-to-release-sean-long/
Just s fine point, there won’t be dual reg next year.
I didnt say dual reg. I mentioned a dual up as in he works for the SL club and takes us on in a part time role.
Its not a common thing but it does happen. James Webster is coach of Fev and assistant at Leeds.
Suppose it depends on the level of involvement at the SL club and the existing link up e.g. Fev dual registered with Leeds the last few years so Webster could look after the Leeds dual reg players. Wonder if Webster will continue at Fev with no dual reg linkup.
When Phil Cantillon was running all those tries past York, you would have had long odds on them being a more attractive job than Widnes!!
York have done extremely well, if they can build from a low base comparatively, can't we?
Looking at those currently in this league, the better coaches for me are Ward, Aston, Ford, Kear. None will come here.
Still like to hear more about how we reached this point like...
When Phil Cantillon was running all those tries past York, you would have had long odds on them being a more attractive job than Widnes!! York have done extremely well, if they can build from a low base comparatively, can’t we? Looking at those currently in this league, the better coaches for me are Ward, Aston, Ford, Kear. None will come here. Still like to hear more about how we reached this point like…
I think York are the most overrated and overvalued clubs in Rugby League, 2000 attendances, can't even remember the last time they were in the top flight, they have been extinct more times than the dinosaurs, they're just a have small purple patch on the field.