Maybe you need to get some of your coaching staff on the pitch, they can probably do a better job out there.

We may need them yet - if we get just a couple of injuries or suspensions in the forwards!

INOUT
We must have the biggest Coaching Staff in Rugby,now obviously we don't know what Cunningham will be being paid, but he won't come cheap,then add all the other Coaching Staffs wages , and the Club keep telling us to support Fundraising,why when money is spent on something we don't really need?
I know Cunningham is taking Derek's place, does this mean Derek to a Salary from the Club?

Unfortunately, his appointment has not inspired me

There's no way i'm going to criticise DB though after all he has done for this Club! Probably more than any other individual in my lifetime?

None of this really adds up. What exactly is the role of Head of Rugby meant to do? If it's "helping out" the coach, isn't that what the trio of assistants already there are meant to do? If it's to do contract negotiations, he's not going to trust a 4 week temp to do it for a while.

Feels to me like a role that properly needs defining, if this means that DB will take a step back from playing matters, then I'd be in favour as he'll get far more value for his money if he steers clear of the training pitch!

Hopefully we'll have a reserves side without employing any more coaches next year.

I feel KC's appointment is one of an assessment role. The DOR bit making him only answerable to DB. Whilst everyone else answers to him.

An independent enquiry if you like,which will involve everything from coaches,players,training,structures and game plans.

He's there to assist, that doesn't mean everyone is on trial but it does mean they will be judged and hopefully assisted.

Just not sure this was the right time to do it.

Can never work out why some think a ex good player becomes a good coach, if it was the case we would be overrun with the likes of Powell, but he did he dis his training, not becoming a coach overnight.

Not convinced by Cunningham, St Helens my home town went mad, statue of him, a new housing estate on the site of Knowsley Road named after him, and what did he do, some of his after match press conferences were a joke, he was clueless! and his recruitment was dismal, even to a top club like Saints.

Was rumoured he was heading for Widnes, thought that was a major error! and not convinced about him with Leigh.

An assessment role? not sure he has those skills at all!

Time will tell whether it's been a good appointment or not, nothing else.

The decision to employ a new DoR is bonkers. Derek is only away for a few weeks and he's hardly going to Outer Mongolia (though some would say that's preferable to Hull) - so is he saying that he doesn't trust his coaching staff to make the right decisions? Was he really that involved in the day-to-day goings on inthe coaching side of things that he think is his current staff can't cope without him? I thought he always said that he wasn't involved in all that stuff, so has KC come in just as an admin guy? It all sounds bonkers and panicky to me.

[iDisclaimer:
Yes I have got a grudge (if it makes you feel better to believe that then good) blah blah blah
Yes I still have an opinion blah blah blah
No it might not be the same as yours blah blah blah
Deal with it and move on.[/i

Hi Mish.

A few clubs have a 'senior' former player/coach sitting in the role above head coach. John Kear immediately comes to mind in his role with Chris Chester at Wakefield - and very successful they have been too. Also Brian Noble is employed in that position at Toronto - but the success of that partnership won't really be proven for at least 2/3 years. It seems to be an attempt to provide a young coach with an experienced 'father' figure'. However, I can't really see Keiron Cunningham as a 'father figure!' Whilst he was incredibly successful as a player, he hardly set the world on fire as a coach and probably has less coaching experience than any of our 'fleet' of coaches. (wrong collective noun but seems appropriate!)

Hopefully some of his 'never say die' attitude, and experience as a player at a high level, will add something we have been lacking.

But that's always been Derek's role and we all know that he's never coached, so how does that work out? Look, you're either good enough to be head coach and to make all the decisions about your team or you're not - in which case, pack your bags and go home because you're not good enough. There's no middle ground with this - just ask Alex Murphy what he would think about another coach being brought in if he was head coach.





If you need assistants, or admin staff then fine, but you can't bring a guy in who knows nothing about the team and give him the top job - how humiliating must that be for Jukesy, despite Derek giving him the dreaded vote of confidence. As I said, bonkers.

A lot of clubs have a director of rugby. If Derek can't give the time the role deserves and he feels that Cunningham can do the role justice then so be it. The proof will be in the pudding. Let's see what happens.

Looking back at the season DB brought in the wrong players and had the wrong coaches to keep us in the SL now in desperation he decides to take action in a last ditch attempt to stay in the SL I for one hope his recent appointment achieves that aim.

Increasingly common in professional sport to have this type of role in place.
Personally it seems a odd thing to do but it is pretty common so hardly earth shattering, I suspect Derick is looking at taking a step back as he maybe believes the role deserves more time than he can commit.

Is there only myself and HRJ that think this could be the start of a new coaching regime -- with an eye on next year? Maybe even an insurance policy "if" some depart for whatever reason.

Love him or hate him, Keiron is an SL great and must be well connected and respected in the game. Obviously, his first stint as coach didn't exactly go to plan, but being a Saints legend it was always going to be a tough ask to replicate his playing stature. Who's to say Long wasn't integral to their lacklustre attack? Either way, Kieron seems eager to quickly learn from past experiences and you have to respect that. Plus, he seems like a good honest lad and happy to "tell it like it is". Let's wish him all the best at this great club in whatever role.

5 games in this year we were so close to skyrocketing and then the inevitable injuries took hold and decimated the squad. I guess that's the challenge that makes future success all the sweeter, riding the storm!

Mish, better cover your ears... DB is definitely not scared to make a decision and his strength appears to be his ability to connect with others, with great enthusiasm and vision. And this new acquisition may be a really positive step for Leigh Centurions. They may work very well together and achieve great success! There is no way Derek has disappeared indefinitely -- I can't accept that.

Something needed to improve!

Geoff Toovey says he doesn't know where he will be next season. Might be a decent appointment for us? He can't be judged on the shambles at Bradford this year, and did a decent job at Manly

Yes, it's difficult to see what his role is, in contrast to Jukes, Purtill, Cooke and Anderson. Like you say, he's hardly a coach that's been around the block like Noble and Kear, or even Sheens when he was at Salford. Hopefully the individuals know their responsibilities and can get on with it, or its a holiday in Toronto next year!

Hopefully DB will be around next year, and focused on selling the club to potential players and sponsors, and leaving day to day handling of playing affairs to the army of coaches he's employed.

Would give us some much needed strength in depth in the coaches!

Ha! I was thinking more 'instead of' rather than 'in addition to' one or more of our ever expanding coaching set up

Wasn't Noble at Salford? Sheens capacity at Salford? Kear is a master of RL but the lead is CC. Who has the final call?

With all due respect, I cannot ever see DB sitting back and allowing others to manage his well earned Spondulicks, it does not seem in the nature of the man not to get involved.

Thanks Atomic

but I don't want the job, to busy in Blackpool.

Too many cooks are spoiling the brothers!

Time for someone impartial to sort out the rubbish happening behind the scenes !

You can't beat someone who's a winner and who can handle adversity. Cunningham could be a shrewd appointment.

Just hope we can get survival and then start to regroup for next season I think if we stay up we will have to use are get out of jail free card

Huddersfield lost to a Championship club in last years Qualifiers and finished top 3.

We have to keep the belief !