It's always sad when a great person is leaving an organisation> this is always tempered with the reasoning behind the choice. Much speculation then begins to surface, ie 'was he truly hacked off-has he got a better offer- was he pushed to resign by management- is he ill-has the domestic pressure with his partner/wife got to him?' The only person who will know is Jimmy himself, and he has asked that we respect his decision to leave on personal grounds?
So who's gonna start the speculative comments going then?
My speculation is that he is sick of RL and the way the game is going! I know that he dislikes the middle 8s and the hierarchial structure that made it, he also thinks the disbanding of a reserve grade is detrimental to the game. He doesn't agree with the sending out on loan a player that should be rehabilitated at his own club after an injury.
I also think, for whatever reason, he was upset when Karl Harrison left as KH shared most or all of his views on the game.
That's my speculation, and whatever he does I wish him and his family well!

I wonder what our budget is compared to Oldhams that just beat Hull KR.

No source then.

Someone at the club told me yesterday Matty Elliot is on his way.

I'm not sure about that Harrison bit. Going by KH's comments when he left, Lowes was pretty much ignoring anything Harrison was saying with regards to coaching the side and it was why Harrison left

Matthew Elliott coming in? Hmm. Let's hope Robbie gets his boots back on to fill the number 7 shirt.

It's the 90's all over again!

I'll throw in Brian McClennan as we've already a few Rhino rejects.

And Ian Millward just because no-one would want him so that would be nailed on.

Well, there's a rumour that Jimmy is heading back to the Tykes, which, if true, would leave him with a free rein to blast away at anything and everything he dislikes about the way RL is being run. I'm sure he could find something without too much trouble..

It isn't a rumour as such.
It was printed in the T and A yesterday that he is poised to make his return to the coaching staff at Leeds Carnegie. I assume as an assistant which I think is better for him as he is kept out of the front line.

I think Glen will get the job. If he doesn't then how and when will he get it. He isn't going to prove himself any more at Dewsbury. Surely he has taken them as far as he can. He is treading water there isn't he? I would think it is now or never for him.

I would be delighted if Matty came back as I have always said it was him and not Smith who did all the work with us before Smith left and had a short spell somewhere else before he moved on - again. Maybe that is why he produces good assistants because they do all the graft while he struts around building his reputation. I will save you guessing if you are wondering. I am not overly keen on Smith. He wouldn't last if things got tough.

Completely O/T but can somebody explain the Canada thing. Rowley is to be manager, Noble director of rugby, based in Tong for away games and Toronto for home games. How will this work? Which CH1 team could afford to travel to Canada? Who could fund a CH1 team that plays in Canada? And should they get promoted (which presumably be the ultimate aim) how many SL teams could fund a trip to Canada? Or have I slipped into some sort of parallel universe where RL is the premier sport in the UK?

Maybe it is like Catalans where the RFL pay for the clubs to fly their players over?

But why would Cas want to replace Daryll with Matty? TT!

rlThis will explain most of your questionsrl. Or at least try. In terms of funding for travel, the Canadian team and their backers are paying for it. A rlstory from the Toronto Starrl last year. A rlbit of their recent historyrl. Which makes it sound like they've only been doing this since 2010. Some of the people involved were throwing together pre-match exhibitions of RL at full CFL games in the 90s. There is a long standing passion for getting this off the ground over there, and whilst I know of more RL-loving ex-pats in Australia I personally know way more ex-pats in Canada than I do Aus'.

For Canadian internationals, which are frankly at a lower level than that proposed, they get within 80% of capacity for the stadium the Toronto team will be playing in.

It's not as completely pie in the sky as it might initially sound. Interesting experiment at any rate. Even if it fails, RL will still be the first ever transatlantic domestic competition ever.

Your post certainly makes the idea sound slightly better than I thought....

Thanks VBFG