There seems to be quite a number of ex-fans who, for whatever genuine and valid reason reason (they grown up, kids grown up, more outside interests/responsibilities, funds tight, moved further away, missus cracked the whip, got bored after the initial excitement...whatever) decided to cut back on attending - sometimes cut it out altogether.

I have come across quite a number of such who, for whatever reason, give as their reason to folk in general things like "the coach is crap", "the team is crap now", "the ground is crap" and so on. When, on knowing the individual, this is really a bit of a smokescreen for the real - valid and understandable - reason. Dunno why they feel the need to give a smokescreen reason, but they do and that is their perogative. Some I have worked with or otherwise known well enough to be in no doubt about this.

I say this because (in my opinion) no doubt we will get a further batch who will stop coming next season who will say its because we appointed a crap coach, when in fact they were likely going to jack it in anyway.

What has been missing of course is the recruitment of new fans in anything like the numbers required to offset the inevitable annual churn. That is of course the subject of a different debate. However, I can't see whoever we appoint as coach causing a massive increase in attendances just by itself, to be honest.

You see, I wasn't going to mention his name in case he appeared....

But you've gone and done it now



And if ME is right and GB is actually some combination of McNamara and/or Mr Duffy this could be inside information???????? (no offence gb)

Correct. At the end of the day the only thing that will increase the numbers is success on the pitch, followed up by good marketing. A new coach can bring that about but will not cause it by themselves just being appointed no matter who we appoint. And we could appoint the most unpopular man you could think of, but if we win 10 on the bounce whilst playing exciting rugby the numbers will increase and no one will care how unpopular the appointment was.

I read it as Brian Mac. Won two Grand Finals as a player didn't he?

Or a coach who has probably been encouraged/forced to concentrate fully on promoting not just developing young players but developing young players from the South East and given little latitude with regards to spending or bringing in proven players. And this he has done successfully. Very.

No. 1997 SL medal and 2001 GF Medal. Effectively 2 however. As did Mr Potter

I'm a bit suprised that people have a pop with what McDermott has achieved in london with the cards he's been dealt. He's soldiered on in really difficult circumstances.

It seems some people need a bit of a reality check and start to realise that a grafter who can work well in difficult times is probably what we need to have right now, not a fancy dan that can only deliver with a team of world-beaters.

Precisely my point.

Must be difficult to coach Wellens, Gidley, Meli, Pryce, Eastmond, Roby, Cunningham, Graham, Wilkin, Peletua et al. Potter has arguably done no worse or better than Anderson who was perennially owned by the Rhinos in the big game. I would be interested to see Brian Mac with the very same team given the egos that presently masquerade around Knowsley-ville.

I wouldn't rule Potter out purely based on that. Remember what he did with Catalans, which aside from a few star names, were hardly a team full of superstars. But I agree that McDermott isn't nearly as bad a choice as some are making out. However I think the fairweather/casual supporters, who just look at the bread and butter of league position, will not be happy with the appointment, so the general feel will be that it's a poor one. I take the point of others though that perhaps it wouldn't have an effect on attendances that much, but the performances off the back of it will be the key.

I've said from the start though that if we want someone to continue bringing the highly promising youth players through, we can do no better than McDermott. He's unproven when it comes to first team coaching though (which doesn't make it a bad appointment, as he's not really proven one way or the other).

One thing that does worry me a little is that McDermott is known to be a fan of Sykes, Sheriffe & Worrincy.

After Potter turned the job down due to his intention of returning to Australia.

And yet Tony Smith (who employed him in two roles) would castigate those "not happy" with his appointment as clueless, I'm sure. Rightly.

Irrespective of who the appointment is, neither will be able to make swathing changes on the simple premise that many players are under contract and the club won't suddenly be able to procure hundreds of thousands to bank roll salary payments. Next year more realistically will be a top 6 finish with some good young players, with a year of development under their belts, some decent new signings and a rolling stone effect.

This all has to be coincided with a significant boost in the marketing and PR strategy at the club which will help negate the naysayers and doom merchants whomever the appointment.

Really? I was under impression he definitely wasnt a fan of worrincy and he shipped all 3 out off quins.

Somebody's bought a copy of League Weekly on their dinner hour.

It's wrong mate the press conference where Lee St Hilaire will be unveiled will be tomorrow. They've had to postpone it by one day because Hadfield can't make it over today.