Thanks for the effort simon
Our heads were down on sunday and just a few players can make the difference
Im not knocking the lads at all but its important we get some wins together
Simon finnegan did everything he could with very limited back room staff
Smith and Bewick as an immediate standby would look the obvious call. Just how in tune the coach and senior players were might be interesting later.
As for potential coaches long term, Henderson is very clear in his analysis but that being the case why did Wire not try him? Likewise Briers at the same club. Being a coach requires more than just analysing play, he must have the ability to inspire players to do better etc. I don't think that Brown or Price see themselves as Championship material and are probably happy as gurus atm. I don't see that inspiration in Hendo tbh. Kelly had it, Kear had it, as did Cullen tbh.
A coach without it is not going to get big games out of average players.
Hopefully Simon has learned a lot in his short time here and can find his way in the game elsewhere.
@cuerdley-viking Come off it CV, we have not been a "Big Club" since the days of Offiah et al. We will never get back there unless someone with a heck of a lot of cash they can afford to lose buys the club and stadium, They will them have to invest heavily on players to progress the club back up the ladder. As for the new coach, they will have to rule with a rod of iron to get the best out of the players we have. The majority of them have got the talent but do they have the heart. I have been a supporter since 1955 and have seen the ups and down of the club during that time. I hope that the club can turn itself round and climb this league once again. I wish Simon the best for his future but I think he was given a short straw with the financial regimewe are under.
Henderson believes he's above a Championship head coach role - he applied for Leeds and is holding out for Hull KR, apparently.
Leon Pryce wouldn't be a bad left-field suggestion.
Wouldn't be averse to giving Kevin Brown a try either (can he play as well?!) - ultimately, we won't get promoted or relegated this season so doesn't need to be a panicked/short-term appointment; needs to be someone with a plan.
@ceejay1 my first game was 1962 so I’m a relative youngster - what you said is spot on.
Problem is that a 'new' coach cutting his teeth could well have the same result. I don't know Matty Smith or Bob Beswick personally but they have masses of experience of coaches good and bad, which is a good start.
We need a good communicator with the ability to improve players and there aren't that many about. Clubs like Batley, York etc have gone down that route and are prospering.
But it takes time to build steadily on small investments each year. The idea that a massive investment will resolves problems instantly is a myth - ask Khoukash!!! Fans need patience beyond twelve months!!
Tempting a Yorkshire coach to this side of the Pennines, part time, will be difficult too, as you say we have history but we live in the present.
I have respect for our Board for their effort and for most of the moves they have made. They will either have, or need, a long term vision, based on financial reality, of how we can progress in years, not months.
For our part, as fans, I would suggest that the Board's plan is made open to us all. A fan buy-out has been suggested but in reality I doubt that we could make that a formal reality, particularly with the rising cost of living. If enough fans make a support pact with themselves and stick to it that might be enough. That is pretty much where we are atm and fans need to know what the Board see as the future and let the Board measure their response.
For instance, as a supporter I would be prepared to buy a two year Season Ticket if it would help give the Board/new coach some indication of my support. I'm not prepared, after 70 years support, to see the club dissolve, my dad (God rest his soul) would haunt me!
Sick of everyone coming out with we need a plan, the same crap excuse has been used for 10years. What we need is a team GIVING THEIR ALL, is that really too much to aske from a fan ?.
@ceejay1 Our coach's departure has not been mentioned on BBC or Sky sport RL. that's how much of a big club we are.
Agree with Mick.It's a load of rubbish this 'plan' nonsense.It's Rugby League and there is no plan apart from winning games and giving it your best.
I would be happy with Kevin Brown. He is tactically quite astute (we saw that during his post match interviews when he played for us), he would be cheap as well as has no coaching pedigree yet, based local (one would assume) and already knows the club. I personally dont have any personal issue with him for leaving, he always played well for us and left to better himself, alright for the local enemy but, looking back he made the right decision because we went to crunchie!
Terrible appointment from day one, completely out of his depth. Players revolted in the end by the looks of things to. We need an organ grinder not the monkey, thank goodness the board acted pdq. We are still a big club & deserve better no matter what the happy clappers on this board come out with
Post of the year contender.
Widnes haven't been a big club for decades, and this attitude is part of the problem. Miles off promotion, mediocre squad and falling attendances. Getting spanked by teams with far smaller budgets.
Apart from they won stuff 30 odd years ago which part of the club do you think is 'big'? Genuinely interested to know.
No club in the championship is big, nor will they ever be.
@torn-sock-1 Personally I reckon the posts about us not needing a plan is a contender too. Presumably when the players come off contract at the end of the season and our kit sponsorship runs out and player insurance runs out a week before someone gets a life / career threatening injury (God forbid) it’ll all be ok because the three people left at the club would ‘give it their all’
Although I do agree with your sentiments TS.
Whoever we appoint the club needs to back them. You can't do the job without assistants, analysts etc. We lost 2 coaches before Simon Finnegan we didn't sack them (Purtell and Sheens). One went off to be an assistant coach the other resigned to no job at the time. We have tried to do the job on the cheap and it hasn't worked.
We don't know who we are as a club. Clubs like Batley know exactly who they are. We were a club with an Scholarship ,Academy and long term plan and principles now I don't know what we are or more importantly what we want to be.
Personally I would try to get Richard Marshall lives locally, experienced, knows the Championship has worked in the youth systems of our 2 closest Super League Clubs and knows the kids coming through the systems in the local area. Presumably has good relations with our local Super League teams.
But it doesn't matter who we appoint unless we back them and empower them, set them clear goals and ask them to build the club not just the team.
Sick of everyone coming out with we need a plan, the same crap excuse has been used for 10years. What we need is a team GIVING THEIR ALL, is that really too much to aske from a fan ?.
The problem is people will never be happy. Even when we finished 8th, 7th and 9th in Super League and reached the playoffs, people wanted the coach out, didn't think the team was good enough.
As has been mentioned, some people need a reality check. It's 30 years since "the glory days" and no one of my generation or since has experienced anything close. Beating Wigan to go top of the league after seven games of a season is literally the high point.
I'd bite your hand off for 8th in Super League now and consolidating like say Hull KR with at least the odd cup run to hang our hopes on.
Terrible appointment from day one, completely out of his depth. Players revolted in the end by the looks of things to. We need an organ grinder not the monkey, thank goodness the board acted pdq. We are still a big club & deserve better no matter what the happy clappers on this board come out with
Post of the year contender.
Widnes haven't been a big club for decades, and this attitude is part of the problem. Miles off promotion, mediocre squad and falling attendances. Getting spanked by teams with far smaller budgets.Apart from they won stuff 30 odd years ago which part of the club do you think is 'big'? Genuinely interested to know.
No club in the championship is big, nor will they ever be.
You have such a massive interest in Widnes socky my ol mucka! Surely your a fan these days!
What cuerdley means I suspect..is we are one of the big clubs in the championship not rugby league world and I fully agree.. fev Leigh Bradford and us are the big fish in this division.. just cos we have been crunchie on the pitch doesn't change that.. we have the higher attendances in this division best facilities etc.. we deserve better end of.
Adiós wotsits