He's swapped one poisoned chalice for another. Well, one poisoned styrofoam cup for another.

Thanks for the effort Steve, it just hasnt worked out for him.
People say he's done wonders with the youth system maybe he has had a hand in that, but there is no reason why this should stop IMO, Paul Medley is the head of youth development and he is still here, so whoever comes in is going to have Medleys expertise in that area to work with. I presume and hope the systems will stay the same.

Exactly, I've read on here comments about this setting the club back etc etc, but the youth development systems at a club should all operate independently of whoever the first team coach is.

Obviously a head coach will have some input, there isn't a coach in the world who wouldn't want good young players coming through, but it is the board of directors who are ultimately responsible for the direction the club takes, and ensuring that funding for youth development is in place.

I understand that SM has personally done much of the legwork, and young players were impressed by the level of interest he took compared to other head coaches.

I'm very pleased for Steve but it's a BIG mistake to let him job share. In any high level job you can only serve one master and I'm afraid that it will be the Bulls who suffer.

A good coach will be thinking about his team and their tactics 24/7, not just on training days, and Steve will now be thinking more of England than the Bulls.

I'm sure many people will disagree with me, and I really hope I'm wrong, but just watch the Bull's performance from now on...I'm afraid it will deteriorate.

And we had the chance of much-needed compensation!

Regarding the youth set up that's developed under McNamara. I think this may be one of the deciding factors in him getting the England job. Looking on the RFL website under their vacancy section there's been a number of development jobs being offered and it looks like the RFL are trying to put in a long term plan for bringing our national team up to standard. The important part is LONG TERM. We do not have the players to compete with Aus/NZ on the international stage. We don't. Stop your internal dialog. You cannot name me 17 English players who can go for in against the aus national team. We have to go back to grass roots and build up 30 or so players from school boy level up to the required level. And I think McNamara may just be the man to build that legacy. Is he the man to then win the world cup with that team? That's another question

yeah, didn't james donaldson say that the reason he signed for us and not leeds was that mcnamara had actually gone to his house to personally meet him but he'd not said 2 words to tony smith during negotiations with leeds?

And just who exactly would you have parachuted in immediately to replace him? Who would have been fully up to speed with everything? And who would not cause initial disruption? And who knew everything about the club and the players and what he had to deal with?

The only thing worse for the Bulls than having a Head Coach with less time and headspace on the case would be NO head coach, I suggest?

Something that has been lost on everyone on here who has repeatedly called for Macca to resign immediately because he was not delivering what they expected.

Get real!!!

Excellent. Spot on IMO. You can come again.

The only qualifications he's really got, is that he's British and he'd take the job !!!

So being part of the England set up under Tony Smith doesn't qualify as a good experience to have.........? Being part of the set up and actually having an idea of what life is like during the set up has surely got to be worth something?!?!?!

And what qualities would you like the England coach to have.............? ! ? ! ? 3 super league titles under his belt .........?

Good luck to Steve M, i hope you do really well and there is nothing more than ANY british rugby league follower wants more is for England to be able to compete with the Aussies and have a great chance of beating them consistently!

Let the Fun begin on who is going to replace him, people haven't mentioned Karl Harrison along with the usual suspects.
Will Peter Hood think of appointing a NRL assistant coach seeing as Brown and now McGuire have shown some quality, (using Wayne Bennetts criterea that it can take up to 7 yrs as an assistant before they are ready to step up as Head Coach!)
Those that think Macca will let the Bulls slide now have got that wrong, the one he thing will want, is to see the Bulls to perform strongly for the rest of the season to prove that he can do the job and stick metaphorical two fingers to his detractors and show the RFL they have a hired a quality coach.
I'm just disappointed he chose not to extend his contract for at 2-3 more years, just when the worst seemed over.
As with Nobbygate I'm sure there will be a slow leaking of versions from both camps on this, roll on the next Fans Forum!