Which is hardly surprising, given that this is hardly the kind of information ever likely to be in the public domain. Is it?

I'd agree with that. Several people on here have ridiculed Powell's reign as Leeds coach in the past but he never missed out on the play-offs, and the team did improve under him (admittedly it took someone else to make Leeds realise their [ifull [/ipotential).

I don't see how it is fair to blame the assistant coaches but not criticise the head coach. It would be like blaming Francis Cummins for Leeds missing out on the WCC and the CC.

Like I said on another thread, all the 'underperforming' teams this season have young British coaches. It seems that some kind of NRL experience makes Antipodean-coached SL sides better at certain technicalities - defence and the ruck area, both areas where Bradford have struggled this season IMO.

Which is why the oft repeated view that the Bulls cannot afford to get rid of Macca is as irrelevant as mine.

I don't follow much NRL these days, but I read an analysis of a game by Craig Bellamy earlier this year. The technical detail was stunning. I don't know if it is just the level that our media reports, but I have never read or heard anything approaching it over here.

Should have gone mid season.

Hood claimed playoffs was acceptable. Will they be any punishment for a failure to do this. Knowing the Bulls, a contract extension.

Nail on the head.

Especially when you consider that these so called "poor assistants" were recruited by McNamara in the first place. IF they are incompetent then HE is surely culpable for bringing them into the club in the first place.

I could understand some fans saying let him see out his contact but I can't believe there are idiots who feel he has done enough already to be offered a new contract!

He should have gone earlier in the season but I guess we're stuck with him now so none of this matters.

Also weren't these assistants at the club in 2006 and 2007 when we had semi decent seasons.

Yeah, but surely so was McNamara?

I agree, but again the same could then be said for McNamara. If he's to blame for the awful season, he was to credit for the semi decent ones?

No matter which way you look at it, the same argument can be used for both, whether you're praising or slating them.

I personally really don't know where the problem lies. It could be McNamara, could be the assistants, could be a combination of the two, or it could be something entirely different. I think 99.9% of fans don't know enough about the inner workings of the club to know where it lies. The only one who will truly know are those at the club or close enough to get accurate info from those within.

Never said he wasn't. The thing which I find funny now is that now things haven't gone well it's Baz and Lee's fault not Macca's.

Spot on that.

I voted for "I'm not happy but understand he is the best option for the club"...([ibut with the addition[/i...at the point we're now at, in the close season, in September, already having next years recruitment plans in progress).

As we stand today IMO he should not be sacked now, but I would not have had any complaints had he gone after 10 games of last season. There have been too many unacceptable performances this season, whatever the underlying reason is. I'm not overly concerned about the in or out of playoffs thing as that is also partly due to some other teams significantly raising their game at the same time we're having a dip, its performances week to week which I pay to turn up and see which concern me - sort that and the league placing sorts itself. McNamara is ultimately responsible for the on pitch display and the bottom line is that too often over the past three years its not been good enough.

But he is the man the club is going with for next season, and I'll go with it into next season, (providing he doesn't drop any huge clangers on the recruitment front which might change my mind). His contract expires at the end of next season, and he needs to convince me during the first couple of months of next year it should be renewed, because at the moment although the situation calls for him to be our coach at the start of 2010, longer term I have no idea. I just hope he and the club can build on the positives and move us forward.

I wonder if we're interested in Scott Naylor? Anyone know whether he is was well respected at Salford?