Bit of a leftfield crazy idea but what about Arthur until end of season then Rowley in for next season?
Would that even work? Would he even bother?

If BA wants the job long term why would he move over just for a few months as a stand in.

I don't think that's crazy at all - or even Demetriou on a similar basis. Blease did talk about potentially an interim.

If Rowley is signed up for 2025, they will still be in dialogue about players etc. beforehand so it could be a smooth transition. I don't actually think it's fair to poach a head coach mid season like this, call me old fashioned but Rowley seems a good bloke and I doubt he'd want to leave Salford in the lurch.

Yeah and it shows doesn't it? This is kindof my point though: without anything else changing, where is this extra £1m per year on wages coming from? £500k on improved players in key positions, Blease, and increased spending on the head coach too...

AMT might provide some of the answer but I think Leeds generally is run more like an operating business than a rich man's plaything.

But if hes got that other job lined up next year, he might just want a few months over here, get paid a wedge and complete some scouting for the expansion team to boot.

Im not saying thats happening but it could....

So cynical for one so young...

Mate, I MOD on here... Bound to have an effect.

l didn't know the coaches salary counted on the cap. thought it was just the playing squad

It doesn’t.

that's what I thought but I'm no expert on it

If Arthur would cost £400k pa , I reckon that will be 3 times what Smith was on, it’s one reason I think it will be Rowley

I think it would be possible to say to Arthur, why don’t you come in on a deal until end of the season, we can see if we fancy you, you can see if you fancy us and enjoy UK life. If the answer to both is Yes we do a longer deal, if either party is not keen we part amicably and then we could move for Rowley for 2025.

Arthur may not go for that but we could say quite openly we ended up paying out a lot for Furner and Smith and don’t want to do a 3 year deal without a trial that works both ways.

If he says No I want a long deal and we think he is the right man we can still go for it

I could see Arthur or Demetriou coming in for the remainder of the season on interim maybe. They wouldn't do any harm with Blease looking after recruitment and retention. If it works then great, if it doesn't we can be looking for the right man going into pre-season.

Without the fans baying for blood it might have made more sense to retain Smith until the end of the season but his position became untenable - I imagine we did have another coach in mind before we made the decision to sack him. Can't wait to see who we appoint, lots still to fix at Leeds but I'm feeling pretty good about the future at the moment.

You will be until they appoint JJB with Agar as his assistant!!