Apols for not reading whole thread, but does Wane have experience as an assistant or just as reserve team coach?

I accept he has a big rep with the players, but it would be a gamble IMO. I'd certainly rather see him get the job than an NRL coach.

I will back Wane too, but I'll be disappointed and will worry that it's an unadventurous appointment at a time when Wigan clearly need something different and exciting - such as someone schooled in the NRL.

Given that we finished 6th, even with Noble in charge, I don't think we'd have to improve 'dramatically' - as you put it, to get into the top 4. I agree, we need at least two new players (and I mean good 'uns), but even without those, replacing Noble - who I firmly believe has found his true level with Wigan, which is mid-to-upper table - with a much better coach, I'm sure we can strike for silverware.

Did anyone else spot Jon Sharp at the game yesterday?

I seen him in the carpark by the Soccerdome and I'm guessing he was going to the DW Stadium.

He's going to be announced as the new Cas coach this week.

Hopefully

The lack of an earlier announcement has led to constant questioning of Nobby and IL on this and it doesn't really matter why they want to know or ask the question. It has become a story in itself and a distraction. The media has got what it thinks is a story and keeps plugging away.



It is but what I said was the constant questioning does IMO reinforce the opinion that an earlier announcement would have been the way to go.



This is what I am getting at.



Perhaps he will do it differently next time.

Depending on the name in the frame it is raising and lowering expectations IMO and the latter is potentially dangerous commercially and to IL's reputation. You only have to look at the reaction in the thread on Sharp being the potential new coach. Before him most names in the ring were considered positive choices, even Wane to a degree. The fact there has been no announcement and Sharp is a free agent plus W/L/A's rumour shows the lack of knowledge can have the knives out for IL when he hasn't even made such an appointment - as far as we know! The lack of an announcement has done him no favours here.



I think had he announced Nobby was leaving a couple of months back and Wane was taking over it would have got much more of a positive reaction than it will if he is announced as coach once our season is over. The reason for this is all the speculation about coaches like Hasler has as you mentioned previously raised expectations so Wane will seem like a second best afterthought.

Unfortunately it would not be possible to do that though (announce Wane as coach while Nobby served his contract out) because it would be an impossible situation have your current coach sat there knowing the U21 coach had got his job. This is one scenario where you can't name the successor before the end of the season if the successor is from within the club, unless of course you actually sack the coach and install the assistant or U21 coach in his place.

This brings me back to my opinion that if a coach who is considered not good enough is coming to the end of his contract and you decide not to keep them on, then you are forced to sack them before the end of their contract unless you are prepared to do what IL is done which is maintain the no comment stance and put up with the flak.

It's a lot different to keeping on a successful coach to the end of contract who wishes to leave once his contract is up. In that scenario everybody knows the score because the coach has usually made his position clear and everyone knows he is off. When it's the opposite and everyone assumes (but does not know for certain) the coach is not wanted next season we get what we have got with Nobby and IL.

Dave

Please no

Please Lord if you don't ever do anything for me ever again don't let Jon Sharp be our new coach

If IL wants a full season of crowds like last night then having Sharp as coach will do it




Maybe hes taking Wanes job as reserve coach ?

Hope not. The bloke has just been fired off by Hull.
Not good enough for the rest not good enough for Wigan.

Yeh but he comes cheap !

Maybe Sharp will be the 'Yes man' i'd imagine Lenagan wants.

I'm pretty confident theres nothing in this Sharp rumour anyway but if there is then we're going nowhere fast i'm afraid.

Its a frightening thought isn't it.

It states in League Weekly today, that the McGuire deal is nearly done, we've apparently already cleared McGuire with the RFL and there happy for him to be over here were just now waiting for his visa to be accepted.

I think McGuire will be are coach for 2010 but as time goes by rumors surface because the situations not been cleared up yet, thats the reason why Sharp's name has popped up it's nothing but BS.

If it doesnt happen i'm personally going to blame you ok

Ok



I know one thing, if we don't sign McGuire and instead sign Sharp, you'll never see anyone remove something from there sig quicker than I will.

If we then appointed Wane as his assistant, that would be brilliant.

Its a shame I rank League Weekly's credibility up there with that of The Sun.

McGuire would be a very exciting appointment indeed.

Never buy League Weekly, its all yarkshire clubs for me and nothing ever about Wigan so I buy League Express which is miles better.

If John Sharp is announced as our fearless leader and no more signings are made I for one won't be looking forward to the new season as we will once more slip down the power rankings with Hudds, Wire and HullKR all overtaking us joining Saints and Leeds.

We need a decent coach and one marque signing. McGuire and Webb I would be happy with.

Would prefer Bennett, Morley/Burgess and Lockyer but heres to dreaming

Haven't bought either League weekly or League Express for a good 5 years now, I have a customary trip into Tesco's every Monday lunchtime to freeload on there copy's it's much cheaper that way.





There's no doubting that who ever we place in charge will have the biggest bearing on are future, select the right person and were onto a winner add into that a much needed prop and we could do well next year.

However were we to sign Sharp or someone else of his caliber as well as not addressing the prop situation then we may as well right 2010 off and possibly longer.

I don't mind waiting one bit as long as the wait's worth it, if Lenegan does fail to deliver on the things he's mentioned then I'll be bitterly disappointed, either way the ball's in his court let's hope he get's it right.

We have ben waiting since 2005 TBH.



At least back then we had a few marque signings every year and then every year since we have been waiting for certain players to come off contrat rubbing our hands together at the prospect of spending their wages on another class player only to be told year on year we have spent it on upgrades ala Seu Seu, Vaeliki, Moran, Fletcher, Barrett, Hock, Smith etc. Fielden and Bailey being the next ones.

With Hock and Smiths wages who have we upgraded other than Tomkins?

In all seriousness I am expecting Matt Cooper to sign in place of Carmont either this year or next along with LMS. That's the Wigan quality we are after!

We must have a ruck of money for wages and IL is saying we haven't just to con the agents who play teams off each other to et the best deasl for their client, I just hope he is doing that and not the fact we have no room left under the cap.

You're very wrong about the upgrades. All the club's best juniors have had their wages upped from peanuts to quite respectable levels since IL took over. That's definitely one thing we can't complain about him for.

I personally am being patient about signing players as we still have loads of high earners who were not IL fault.

Once Fielden goes along with a few others who get maybe more than they should then we should have some dosh to spend.

I agree about the quality of players we should be signing but we still need some average grafters in the team and some good young talent. I am sick of us looking abroad and getting average players! If they have not played SOO or played for a national team then it is unlikely they will cut it in super league IMO, we need top players otherwise we may as well just get some more young players coming through.

I seem to recall when IL first bought Wigan that he said he would not make any big signings or spend any money until he had got to grips with the salary cap infringements. Fair play he spent a bit and the cap is under control. He also said as I recall that the club were going through a transitional period and said 2010 was to be our year. Its time Ian, lets see what you got!

Next year will go ok I feel but we can only begin to make signings next year for 2011 which I am guessing is what IL means. I am sure we have players in mind.

We have not got loads of high earners any more. With Bailey off-contract at the end of this season we have three signed by Mo. Hansen, Fielden and Feka will be the only players not on contracts signed under IL. That is it. There are not any "few others" on OTT wages unless IL is following in Mo's footsteps.

Everybody else was signed or re-signed by IL.

We need a prop and a half back because Fielden has not lived up to his billing and TL isn't a great 7 (but we re-signed him and given we are not getting a half back by the looks of it will keep him at 7).

If we have substantially upgraded young players contracts that is good news and if that means we can't get the class players we need for 2010 that is a balancing act IL will have to take the hit or the credit for depending how things turn out.

Come 2011 though when those three players are off contract he must deliver some real quality players either home grown or brought in, I don't care but by then the Wigan fans will be fed up of wishing their lives away waiting for "next year" when the constraints of old contracts excuse no longer applies. Especially as when he said himself just after he arrived it would be 2010 before we could move for players not 2011.

Dave