Quote from Fax Head coach
“We are in the ‘working at it’ stage at the moment.
9 rounds into the season and this is his mantra. What the ****.
Seems he had to fall back onto a halfback paring that has some speed and guile to deliver the goods again this week.
What's he gonna do Thursday if his favourite son is not fit? start with a half back paring that is gelling?
You don't want to forecast injuries, but is that not a coaches job to have a plan b,c,d, to revert to at all times not just when the needs must?

To be fair to Marshall, of course we are working at it. Things haven’t gone as well as we had hoped, confidence has been low as a result, so we have to work our way out of it, like any walk of life when things aren’t rosy. The half back pair looked good in the 2nd half, although we had still scored plenty in the first. Other difference was we decided to tackle better in the middle after half time, together with Hornets giving penalties away at will. JWH was very good with ball in hand and a threat all game, has got a great step and the strength to push a man off - 3 good tries from him. Agree we need to see them go again, maybe against sterner opposition where we might need to respect possession more and play six and kick. I think the only time we got to a kick, Barber made it

What can you expect when our pre-season didn't finish until four games in?

Let's not get carried away.... Rochdale are easily the worst side in this league and they still managed to score more points yesterday than they have versus any other team in this league.... Marshall is merely running down the clock and this is the side hes assembled by spending the most he ever has whilst at Fax. I cant see many victories in the next few weeks, which could mean the season has gone just after Easter...

Time for a change now IMO before it's too late both from a league perspective and more worryingly a financial one

So, what's your solution?

A new coach for one who knows and can see the areas where we are poor and lack nouse. For me give the role until the end of the season to the guys who already take and set most of the training without any guidance from RM. At least then they're in charge and can try salvage something from this year whilst there is still a club to salvage

@ Chris smith quote "For me give the role until the end of the season to the guys who already take and set most of the training '
Are they not they guys taking the orders from R M as to what he wants from training, set plays and the like?

Throughout Marshalls tenure, the 3 clubmen, Tyrer, Murrell and Kaye are undroppable irrespective of form.

RM gives no orders and hasn't set any training for a while. He doesn't do many (if any) of the HT or pre game talks. Players are frustrated by his lack of input and just want to get on with the job which is hard when your not paid to do that.... Get rid and give them some clarity so the season isn't lost

So you're saying give the role to people who are, according to yourself, running the training and are therefore by default, responsible already for the poor performances???

No it's a rudderless ship and all they want is clarity and have tried to voice their concerns. If it's your team, your decisions etc it makes a world of difference. However if you are merely a player and have a coach who is paid as such and isnt really doing anything then that's different... I'm not saying they are the answer but they are respected more than the coach is... As it stands now with RM in charge its a disaster....

Don’t want to start a ruck or anything but you really need to back this up with a source, or acknowledgement of source of info.

From my experience, in a situation like the one you are outlining, players come out and say something, approach the board and the board get galvanised. Not allow the coach to continue to be the face of the club. I’m not calling BS but I smell a rat!

There have been issues on the field and all the club can do is work hard to resolve it and enjoy the support of the fan base and not be exposed to conjecture and stirring

BOD are aware and a meeting held after one of the home games after said player requested it (Dewsbury game IIRC). This is not from someone who told someone... Believe me or not, I dont actually care.

Also it’s been well publicised that RM doesn’t / won’t listen to any of these same people.

Whilst I’m very dissapointed / frustrated with the many of this seasons performances and the book stops with RM and some of his recruitment decisions have been poor when I’m being critical it’s not to the point where I contradict myself.

It’s just another area the club is lacking in my opinion. Marshall being chief cook and bottle washer is a recipe for disaster. At the very least there should be a Football Manager/Director to help with player welfare - if a player has a problem who does he go speak to??
This - coupled with a complete lack of commercial activity from the board makes me extremely nervous. Sponsors have paid thousands to the club this season and have had next to no exposure from the club ang the club are not meeting there contractual obligations to said sponsors. Gone are the days of the board trying to build positive relationships with local businesses, which is commercial suicide for a club like Fax.

Very fair points.

Also worrying is that having spent so much in pre-season and once again only a few months in to the season and Marshall's recruitment is brought in to question and the club is having to go begging to supporters to raise money to bring in a player that it seems the fans want more than the coach. Also worrying is that said player did want to leave the club but is now looking for a return. The last thing we need to be spending money on right now is a player who has hardly played for 3 seasons.

We've won 5 games and lost 4. We're currently 7th but on the same points as 5th. The worrying statistic though is how many points we've conceded.

I think that our biggest loss has been Andy Holleyhead, with fitness for our part-timers being shown up in our defence this season. Lack of fitness also contributes to conceding penalties, which is also a big problem for us at the moment.

We're still at the races fighting for a top 5 spot, but we need to find a way to get our fitness levels up so we can defend effectively and stop giving away needless penalties.

Quote ="Greg Florimos Boots"Also worrying is that having spent so much in pre-season and once again only a few months in to the season and Marshall's recruitment is brought in to question and the club is having to go begging to supporters to raise money to bring in a player that it seems the fans want more than the coach. Also worrying is that said player did want to leave the club but is now looking for a return. The last thing we need to be spending money on right now is a player who has hardly played for 3 seasons.'" https://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article/5 ... from-wigan Anyone local know anything about our new signing Oliver with him being an Halifax Lad?

Quote ="Greg Florimos Boots"Also worrying is that having spent so much in pre-season and once again only a few months in to the season and Marshall's recruitment is brought in to question and the club is having to go begging to supporters to raise money to bring in a player that it seems the fans want more than the coach. Also worrying is that said player did want to leave the club but is now looking for a return. The last thing we need to be spending money on right now is a player who has hardly played for 3 seasons.'" https://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article/5 ... from-wigan Anyone local know anything about our new signing Oliver with him being an Halifax Lad?

Chris_ Smith
If what you are saying is correct, then the BoD have grounds to release him from his tenure without compensation. That surely is gross misconduct and a neglection of duty
Both serious offences in any other job and instant dismissal. Maybe then someone with passion would be introduced at no extra cost. I have been a supporter of Marshall previously, however there comes a time when decisions need to be made, Is this one of them?

If this is the Situation action is needed sooner rather than later.
To show how bad our defence has become Rochdale had been scoring 10 pts a match but we managed to concede 24,Last Season 2nd best Defence in the League now the worst of the Top 8 Surely no co-incidence ?

Surprisingly no as at his age and Siddal he should have been in the Tom Holroyd/Morgan Smithies teams..Welcome to club as with any new signing but a young back rower...really is this what Marshall sees as a priority....?

I thought that is the only position he ever sees as priority.



As coach with this money been raised to bring back Tangata, wouldnt you have thought he might have just said, look its nice and sentimental and everything but what I don't need now is another crocked player, can I use this money to bring in a player who is available to play right now.

Not knocking the fans for their sentimental(one way) decisions but the club shouldn't be sanctioning signings that bring more to the dressing room than the pitch.Personally would have brought Baldwinson in as York's need has been shown as being less than ours in the grunt stakes.

Are Halifax in a position to outbid York?