Gotta say I'm surprised by this decision. I expected him to be here until the end of the season, then EM would announce a replacement.

Not at all sure about the temporary replacements, either. Both hugely inexperienced at coaching at the top level and neither likely to bring in any new ideas and moves. Hope I'm proved totally wrong, though.

This just shows how important a really top quality coach is, and how much difference they can bring. Take note, Mr McManus.


Finally, I want to wish Royce Simmons all the very best of luck for the future. I can't help feeling a bit sorry for the guy.

My point exactly, no one could read anything into it if they tried.

I tried to post last night that he'd been sacked but for some reason this site kept going down and wouldn't let me post anything.

Let's just say the txts I received telling me he'd been sacked wasn't exactly sad posts from his coaching point of view.

I've never been a fan of Royce and McManus was correct in acting "sooner rather than later".

I'd like to wish Royce all the best in the future as he's a top top bloke who never give any less than 100% but unfortunately wasn't up to the job. I know for a fact the players liked him as a person and in the times I've spoke to him he's always been great. He also give up alot of his time going to local amateur clubs for fans forums etc.

Now let's get back to being saints and wining games.

And early last season we were beaten by probably the worst Quins team ever seen. At home. Do you remember? Or were you one of those who didn't go to Widnes? They weren't the only team that beat us who shouldn't have either. And I do believe we were in 7th at around the same time last year. But, as I said, with almost the same team (bar Jammer and Moore) we won the last ten games, we got to third, we were narrowly beaten in the CC semi (by a team of seasoned professionals as opposed to our team full of noobs) and got to within 20 minutes of a GF - again with noobs in critical positions - but all that is forgotten because of four losses when we had actually made improvements on an aspect of our game.

Bollox it is. All bollox.

Anyone know who we are getting in after the next 3 games?

7 games since the GF and he's gone. IMO not a good decision.

Huddersfield have released a slightly bizarre statement which includes the line:



They clearly believe Saints want Brown, as there hasn't been any speculation in the papers that I'm aware of and little online.

I think it's more than idle gossip that we want brown. I honestly think he will take the job if offered.

The only stumbling block is we need someone now.

DA until the end of the year and then brown for 2013?

Why does anyone want Brown? People on here whinge about how we haven't won silverware in a few years and how we need a proven winner, and yet want Brown who has had four years at Hudds and has won precisely nothing! In fact, his team fires out of the starting blocks and dies off at the end.

Why on earth would we want Brown?

It's simple, he's a good coach and after the total mess Royce has made of the recruitment we need one.

He's got hudds looking organised and he's demands respect from his players. He likes his forwards to be rough and tough but also play some great rugby.

He also has the advantage of knowing the super league inside out which is a massive help.

Sorry, Pete, but you are talking in a completely contrary manner to previously.

You have moaned on here about not having a winning coach who knows how to get silverware, blah, blah, blah. No good re-lining the pitch now. Brown has been unable to take a bigger, faster, more experienced and more skillful team to silverware in four whole years. Therefore, he is NOT what we want if we want to be successful in terms of silverware, and you somehow now claiming that he is the man is one big backtrack.

I would also like Brown. His work at Huddersfield has been sensational. I'd also like their youth system though as they produce some top quality backs and probably better forwards than we do as well.

Please dont question my commitment to supporting Saints, that is an insult. I have watched Saints home and away since I could walk and I've probably attended 90% of our matches over the last 20 years, home and away.

Now that's cleared up, back to topic.....You seem to be ignoring the tactical side of the game, the fact that we are absolutely clueless in attack and are serving up some of the worst rugby that this club has produced for as long as I can remember. Does this not concern you? Yes we had a couple of dodgy results at the start of last season but it was never this bad. Yes we somehow managed to reach the Grand Final but I think the freakish displays of Graham and Roby had a lot to do with that.

But reaching the Grand Final only papered over the fact that we hadn't played good rugby for most of the year and that we were very boring and predictable. This season has got worse. And unless you are happy to see that decline, then surely you will welcome a change of ideas/tactics/mentality that surely a new coaching team will bring?

Priceless.

Give over, he's done a terrific job at hudds and I've never ever mentioned having a winning coach. (quote my post where I've suggested such)

In fact the only name I've ever mentioned is getting DA over until the end of the season as he basses his team on organisation.

I'll be happy for a coach to come in who'll organise this mess, get us playing some plays, has a game plan and demands respect and I could care less if he's never one anything previous.

I'll await your post of when I demanded a trophy winning coach.

When was the last time saints sacked for on the field reasons?

I know they said Hanley was on the field but the was more to that than just playing poor.

Was it Mike McLennan? I seem to remember him leaving in the middle of that season in which we finished 8th. 93-4, if I remember correctly.

Possibly or was it Eric Hughes?

Eric Hughes is a legend. What is he up to these days? He built the 96-06 dynasty of success.

Eric Hughes used to take me training when I was playing at Leigh. Had many trip with the great man



I used to have to go training hour early as he got there a hour early and then id have to wait for him after training for my lift home. It used to drive me mad!

haha.. good one.

yea he is a rubbish coach... his team is awful.

Ignore her, she had a thing for Royce

Now I see why you wanted him out as well.





Have you two met up yet?

Not yet but its not for the want of trying!

McClennan was allegedly sacked for off-the-field shenanigans with a couple of fans - sacking him for on-field reasons after we'd only just narrowly lost the league to the all-conquering Pies on a fraction of their available resources and then lost 2 of our best players without replacement would have put Royce's offing into perspective if so.

Didn't he throw pint over some fans?

So does anyone know when the last coach was sacked for on the field reasons?

I think it was Eric Hughes