Exactly where I am. If it turns out to be true, it's an excellent choice. But we've had far too many years of getting hopes up over Christmas presents and then getting a lump of coal.

Coal? You were lucky. In my house we got a kick in the knackers.

Luxury...

Now that explains a few things about you!

I think Kear realised he'd lost his motivation mojo at the RLWC due to him not having the hands on Coaching he was used to! So perhaps he's looking to rediscover it while taking the Bulls upwards in terms of promotion for the next couple of seasons!
If it comes down to a choice between Baloo and Norris I'd go for Norris as he has the necessary to take us upwards!

Damn! I hope this rumour is wrong. If it turns out to be correct then, if I indulged in gambling, I would put a shilling on you lot being promoted next year. Bugger!

A s a Wakey fan I'd hate to see Kear go but frankly it's amazed me that he hasn't been snapped up before. I know he chose to step back from the top job for an easier life but he still got it.

Is he SL standard, maybe maybe not. Is he the type of coach who can pull you out of the mire, ABSOLUTELY YES so long as the club management back him and don't interfere.

Go for it I say

I really don't understand the marketing value of holding back the coach announcement until the Season Ticket Collection. The [ionly[/i people at that event will be the people who already bought a ST anyway, so there's no way to 'monetise' the reveal.

Even in my limited understanding of marketing, it makes much more sense to have the new coach announced tomorrow at a press conference, followed by a big feature in the T&A the next day, with the new coach banging the drum about what a great season we are going to have etc. It's not inconceivable - if it is Kear, or even Anderson - that such a course of action would convince, say, 500 'waverers' to stump up. And you've immediately brought £100K of income into the club.

Am I missing something here?

Because, unless they are hiding the fact that the new coach is going to be a massive letdown, I really don't see any good reason to keep it secret at a point in time when they desperately need people to invest in season tickets.

Agreed. But I suspect the deal isn't over the line yet. Once it is then get it announced asap. Before any deadline so you can get as many season ticket sales done as possible.

Spot on.

Some have questioned why Kear would want to leave his stable post with Wakefield where he seems more than happy, seems to have a brilliant relationship with Chris Chester & Michael Carter, and looking at their recruitment, could have very serious challenge on the top 4 and a place at Wembley. Very much a club on the up. To come to our basket case of a club which has had meltdown after meltdown, no stability and is rock bottom.

If i can use this metaphor. It's like when you see a grand old house. It used to be one of the grandest in the land. But now it's been left to ruin, it's leaning, you have damp throughout, the ceilings fallen through and all the windows have been put through. 99% of people would walk away. But for a few others, their eyes would light up. Passed the collapsed ceiling and smashed windows, they can see potential. It will take a lot of hard work, but they enjoy that sort of challenge. They see what sort of building it could become, not what it is now.

This is the sort of challenge Kear thrives on. We've hit rock bottom and in all honesty, have been toxic to the sport the last few years. But Kear would love to get in there, and rebuild. We're still a club with great potential with somehow keeping hold of a decent fan base, an amazing academy. He's exactly the sort of man we need and i think we're the sort of ugly duckling of the sport, he likes to take on.

Just don't get your hopes up. We may yet end up with someone quite different.

Well, Wakey have a fans forum tonight. I'd suggest this rumour might draw a question or two? Carter appears to be as honest as he can be with the wakey fans so his answer to any direct question about it will be interesting.

Conversation this afternoon during compensation negotiations:

MC: So since we haven't agreed yet, what do you think I should say when someone inevitably asks me about it at the forum tonight?

AC: Personally, I'd make some bullsheet promise and pick a date out of thin air as to when you'll be able to tell them for sure. Then when that date comes, if there's nothing to confirm yet, just stay completely silent.

MC: But won't the fans get angry about that?

AC: Probably, just don't listen to them. Just pay attention to those who are happy they still have a club.

Pretty much what he did for us in 2006, though we hadn't slipped quite as far as you. He has form that's for sure.