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 !

Long was responsible for the defensive structures during the KC era at Saints, its quite well documented and one of the many frustrations we Saints fans endured. Especially considering Longs only attack coaching endeavour at Salford was relatively successful.

Just out of interest, who was the attack coach under Cunningham's reign?

‘Jammer the Hammer’

It was split between Lolesi who was responsible for the backs, and Cunningham who was responsible for the forwards (sorry, middles). Ultimately KC was responsible for the attack though (and everything else). Why he chose to structure the coaching team in that way was baffling.

Yeah, it does seem a bit of an odd set-up. Thanks for the heads-up.

Did anyone else listen to the interview on Rugby League Extra with K.C.

When it was first announced that K.C. would be Director of Rugby at Leigh I welcomed the idea. A person who has won the challenge cup, the grand final, a world club challenge winner and a Super League coach. What a pedigree.

I naturally thought he would "steady the ship" yea Derek has done wonders for the club and I take my hat off to him, he is to be commended for what he has done to improve the club, but for me he is not a Director of Rugby and maybe K.C. would / could bring all that experience with him.

But going back to the interview I felt a little deflated when the words "Flash in the pan" and "Marwan" was used it sounded to me that all this was Marwans idea !!!

I remember him saying something like "Marwan approached me" and they are great friends Derek and Marwan.

Could just be me getting the wrong end of the stick, but it sort of sounded like "oh go then i'll give it a go"

Like I said it could be me

Time will tell, well 6 weeks anyway

For me we already have to many Coaches however I would give Keiron a go and hope he can help preserve our SL status,I've been told Adam Swift the winger from Saints is out of favour and could be available for next season, he is young, strong, and very fast, could do a good job for us if we survive the coming weeks.

So was our team selection and/or performance due to Cunningham, or something/someone else?

cunningham played 1 won 1 superb team performance

Well the guy can't lose can he - stay up and he turned us around, go down and it was too late for him to do anything

Well he was an Hooker!