I remember my playing days and was fortunate to have 1 coach through my junior days right up to U18's

He knew how to get the best of of each and every one of us and by the U18's we went through the season with only 1 defeat.

We'd have run through walls out of respect and admiration for him

The guy that took over was the opposite; he played us out of position, we didn't believe in him etc etc.

Guess what happened to the very same team.....

You can apply it to your own working life....

Managers you've been inspired by and ones that have demotivated you.

I know I've tried to take all the good bits and learn from the awful ones what not to do to mold myself today

Absolutely. People can pretend all they like, but if you get on with your boss and respect him/her, you'll go that extra mile and work harder for him/her. If you don't like them, you won't give two turds.

What's he doing now? Can you have a word with him to contact Green please.

I'd fancy him doing a job!!

Definitely rings a bell with me. I’ve had the pleasure of the company of all the Bulls/Northern coaches since Fox. They all come over as decent men but for me it’s no coincidence that the successful ones (Fox, Smith, Elliott, Noble) were great communicators and had that extra something than made you feel inspired. Fox was the best for that. If I’d been a player I’d have run through brick walls for him.

The last fella we had in charge that came anywhere near was Mick Potter. Unfortunately McNamara, Cummins and Lowes don’t have that same aura.

I heard an interview with Chris Chester last week who said he'd tried to create an environment at Wakefield where the players looked forward to turning up to training. I think the word he used was "fun" which sounds a bit primary school but it's clear that the new techniques are working wonders. It's amazing how a change in coach can energise and completely alter attitudes and application which leads directly to results on the field.

In his book "The Magic of Teamwork," (which inspired thinking in the early days of the Bulls) Vice President of Orlando Magic Pat Williams says the six qualities that effective leaders must possess are Vision, Communication Skills, People Skills, Character, Competence and Boldness. How many of those apply to Lowes?

I think the situation at Leeds is more obviously mental. They have a team on paper, even with injuries, that should be comfortably top 4. What Sinfield & Peacock had above all else was mental strength; they never gave in. They seem now to have a number of mentally suspect players. The games I have seen JJB has been their best player, which is interesting as he is cut from similar cloth to the other 2. With Bradford, I am not sure who they have who the players can turn to as a leader (as I make a rule not watch teams outside the top 7 of SL) when the going gets tough. I am sure Foxy would have an old warhorse to lead the youngsters around & who opposition teams wouldn't mess with. Lowes certainly doesn't seem to inspire players to go that extra mile.

How many of us have just mentally ticked those of for the good managers we've had?

Very accurate

Wouldn't you argue Purtel is this character for us?

With Sidlow injured we've lost our pack leader. In the sub standard performances early on this season he was the one that broke the line and got us on the front foot. Without him the pack is rudderless. In the backs Gaskell is well out of form and Mullaney has gone leaving us with nobody who can create much.

I think Purtell is a solid character but I think he's probably captain purely down to his longevity with the club and the fact that he's played at a high level in the past.