It was obvious GH didn't want to give McClennan another year but had limited options contractually.

So he simply brought in his replacement a year ahead of time and effectively forced McClennan's hand.

He did the same with Smith in getting him the England job and same with Powell.

Not a man to be messed with Gary!!

At least we've not got some nonsense story to go with the appointment this time. Remember Daryl Powell's World Tour?

anyone 'in the know' knew that mcdermott was coming back to be head coach, surprised its taken so long for Mcclennan to see that he was being shown the door

Too true. I think he knew he would have to take a more back seat approach to coaching with McDermott the obvious successor. He won't have been in the talks for signing new players and therefore won't want to have to 'use' the new players as they will suit the style that McDermott is looking to play.

Done well for the club over his reign, but I think he had shut a few academy noses out probably to try keep his record in shape. He arrived at the club winning, and up until this season has continued to win. It must not be easy to take a risk with the team selection when he is almost expected to steer the team to successive titles.

i think that will have been the long and short of it.

I can't believe why everyone is so shocked. Iv been saying for months to people that this would happen. There's been somewhat of a clear out in the back room staff and A few of the players since Mcdermott was announced to be coming and it sounded to me like it was so he could have his own team of people that had nothing to do with the previous regime. I knew it was close when I was told Alex Grosk and the other members of coaching staff had been let go last week.

A lot of people seem to be saying that they thought McDermott did pretty well with the tools he had at Quins? Yet most Quins fans seem to disagree and were glad to see the back of him. Does that make them ungrateful sods? Or are Leeds fans just trying to convice themselves they haven't been sold a pup?

It'll be interesting to see how patient Leeds fans are with the inevitable transition period that's going to follow. I can see this forum getting back to its best after too much lovey dovey in recent years...

I don't think they are ungrateful, more delusional. For a Quins fan to say that another high quality coach in McDermott's position would be able to deliver any better results is beyond me. I'm sure McDermott won't have been happy with the quality of players in the side, but he's not going to fund them himself!

Bluey was one of those people in the right place at the right time. The players won three GF's in a row, not the terrible coaching staff. How often did you come away thinking you couldn't understand what his substitutions were about and asking why such and such a player had been selected.

Most people will have known that he was going, a friend of mine has been telling me for months, and it has taken until now for the compromise agreement to be sorted out. The compromise being that everyone is nice about it. I knew something was going on at 9.15 this morning - Senior was driving in to the training ground!

Good luck to McDermott, I think he learnt some good stuff from Tony Smith, now let's see of he can hack it at the top. No objections to seeing Powell return, clearly a good coach who got rid of the trouble in the dressing room and cleared the decks before Smith arrived.

Timing is interesting - I was still disillusioned about last season and wondering whether or not to renew my season ticket - feeling a lot more positive now. GH magic works again, I bet there's a signing before the end of November. New shirts to sell!!

1 World cup win & 2 successive SL titles (as underdogs) makes him a fantastic coach IMO. There's just no pleasing some folk. Good on ya Bluey, guess it'll all come out in the wash one day. A big wholehearted thank you from me.

Leeds have been going downhill interms of performance in the last 2 seasons, hopefully McDermott can sort the defence and discipline out again so we play how we did under him and Smith.

The backroom staff that are hired to aid him will be key for me.

Hmmmmm ,tough call. GH's rugby league knowledge, or a bunch of oddball refugees from the kick and clap brigade.....

I suspect you will have too much to whinge about on your own bargain basement site, to be bothered about the performances of Yorkshire's premiere club.

Except of course, when we hand you your !

There's something of a split, and its nicely illustrated on the board I think. I'm firmly in the 'not a fan' camp - I think even given the restraints he operated under, he recruited poorly, needlessly moved players out of position, coached the skill out of players and lacked tactical nous.

But there's also a few people who think that nobody else could have done better, that the players simply aren't good enough and McDermott did as well as he could. I sympathise to an extent with this argument and I do obviously recognise that the situation for McDermott was far from ideal, but I don't think he helped himself with decisions that he made.

I think there's an element of rose-tinted spectacles due to McDermott's history with the club and I wonder how long that will last. I am surprised at quite how positive people have been so far, however.

After seeing bluey and hearing his words you can see he feels it's the right thing. No massive drama behind the scenes as the bulls fans would love(this can be gadged by the thread on their board and that it's them that have the most to post out of opposition fans)

In all honesty I think scotty D, Eastwood and now bluey leaving is more about who would want to live in this doom and gloom county when you have a home in paradise where there is no economic crash or recession.

I'm moving to Oz for the same reason! life is just miles better there

that will be a massive factor for the people who have left and are going home. Not just at Leeds but orford, tronc, piggy, sargent. Over here is pure doom and gloom right now, the pound is weak the dollar is strong.

I don't read to much into the players/coach leaving. I think Brian mac will do a good job. disco went for a better deal. our club isn't in crisis as some are hoping!

Bluey had his faults as did ts. i look forward to seeing what Brian mac brings to the table.

In my opinion blueys Leeds team was never as bad as ts Leeds in 06 and most of 07. Bluey sorted plenty of stuff out where ts fell down let's hope brain mac does the same for bluey.