Adrian Lam

Quote: smoking monkey "Agreed. I'm growing more concerned that candidates are de-selecting us rather than vice-versa and if that's because of severely limited spending power guys like Millward and Harrison (used to 'making do in NL' and most likely desperate to get back to SL) are probably the best-fit. You only have to look at Salford to see the risks of appointing some Oz based whiz-kid who suddenly realises he's probably bitten off more than he can chew.'"

I am sure I have said this before, so I apologise if this is repetitious: But I think there are only 2 or 3 clubs in the UK where they would not be de-selected by applicants as well as vice versa. We have modest spending capability indeed, but so does everyone from top 5 down, so that doesn't make us a bad proposition.

I too consider first time overseas appointments risky, they sometimes work, sometimes don't, rarely last and mostly don't bring the expected results because the incumbent will ALWAYS go home eventually, will ALWAYS prefer a job on their side of the world. We got lucky with TM, Hudds got lucky with Nathan Brown and Wigan were far from lucky, he is a renowned quality individual.... But there are double the number of failed shots for overseas coaches. Parish has got a huge job on his hands as Smoking Monkey says, it is fine to rattle your sabre now and say everyone can go; but if he then assembles a journeyman squad and disconnects it from the fans and any local players etc, then he has a torrid time if the team does not perform sucessfully...... For every Adrian Vowles there are many a Sean Rudder and for every Dale Fritz there is a Kyle Warren!

I am less bothered about who we get and more bothered that they manage and maintain the Andy Hay structure down and continue to show, grow and develop pathways for players outside the run on team.
The main thing is definitely the first 20 players at the club OUTSIDE then run on 17 and how a coach will engage and develop them, the on the field 17 is the product of the LAST 2 years work essentially for the head coach and the first team coach drills them and executes a game plan.

My opinion is of course not compatible with most, so I expect a pile of abuse. The hotlist now would appear to be Milward or Lam and Gentle still wont go away; Of them, I would prefer the one who in their interview impressed most in their plans for developing the pool of players I mentioned above, I would also be inclined to incentivise this activity and also incentivise any rep-honours junior and senior level, so a coach is incentivised to have players in England U18 etc as well as full internationals.