How about Ellery Hanley?
He wouldn`t stand any nonsense and has an excellent reputation.
Got some experience on the financial side with his misdemeanours in the changing rooms whilst playing for Bradford!

Ellery is a great shout - Winston's after training lads!!

It is positive the club are separating the rugby from the commercial. Rob Oates would be a great CEO no good for this role. Hopefully they stay clear of all the older players - Ryan Hall would be the only one as he one step removed and he is currently in the game at the sharp end.

Agreed. If the intention is to just shuffle the deckchairs why go to the bother of advertising the role with all the attendent hullabaloo. It needs to be someone outside the club with both a playing/coaching and administrative background. A proven record of success would be key.

Im not sure rob oates is the right guy, lovely man really good at his job (just see all the corporate and sponsorship deals) but he’s super passionate and im not sure that’s the right qualities for this job, it needs someone whos up on the game not just the corporate/ financial side

The club have to be confident enough to risk bringing in someone with the right credentials from outside who is prepared to ruffle a few feathers. I'm not totally against the idea of retaining past players if they have something positive and competitive to offer, but ideally we need a blend of fresh ideas and perspectives alongside diehard Leeds clubmen who are connected with the local community (JJB).

Interesting that Rohan hasn’t done a presser this week nor on the squad news does it say Rohan Smith has named the 21 man squad…

That’s unusual isnt it?

Whoever gets the job, Smiths short term future looks more secure than it did before the announcement. I cant see gh sacking him now as that would be undermining the new sporting director position, before it has started. Also i cant see the new sporting director sacking the coach in his 1st few weeks

A clever ploy by GH to try to appease the supporters but this should have been done ages ago like the other big clubs..
But still a case of jam tommorow so does not change the current situation coaching or performance wise

Im not going to vilify GH regarding the timing or reasoning just yet. On the surface, its excellent news that we recognize the need for a fresh approach and new set of eyes heading the rugby department imo.

If its somebody like Blease, i will be genuinely delighted, partly because of his track record and how i think that projects to a club with all Leeds advantages, but just as importantly, because it will signal a genuine aknowlegment that what we'r doing isnt working and , while theres no guarantee's, a genuine attempt to fix it

If its Oates, JJB, JP etc...For me it signals nothing more than a different face to take the flak while nothing much changes.

Over to you GH

Surely it has to be someone from outside the club with a very good understanding of rugby league ie an ex player or coach,preferably both.

You would hope so, but the piece about the process is expected to close within early June, so 7-10 days from now, means they must already know who it is.

Let's hope they have already targeted someone from outside the club.If it was to be Rob Oats I'm not sure what would change .We know he knows about the commercial side but does he enough about the rugby side of things.

When we look for a coach we have no clue where to start and do a worldwide search.

For this vital role we advertise and fill it in 7-10 days, not much time for any good candidates to get in touch, apply and be interviewed.

If I was in anyway cynical I might think that Hetherington is desperate to get someone in place quickly so he can save face in not having to admit he got the appointment of Smith wrong.

I hope it’s not an internal fudge and hope that Matts”ye of faith” pitch is right and they have tapped up someone external.

As Chris said seems odd no presser by Rohan.

Who knows

Its something that shouldve been done yonks ago.

People clamouring for a return of Sinfield need to remember why he left last time and that he didn't really gel with the role and wanted a return to the coaching side.

This announcement douses a few fires and gives Rohan some much needed breathing space for the next block of "winnable games" to hopefully turn a corner and string something together. It also deflects some of the more targeted criticisms of GH and calls for his head too by some of the fanbase by putting the sword of damocles descision onto the new DOR.

Everyone we recruit here on in has to be top quality.
On and off the pitch. No more jobs for the boys or cheap unknowns