Re Mirror article:
Constant verbal abuse????? Not sure that is accurate, but anything to beef up the story.
Has it been confirmed that the illness relates to stress, or does that just suit the story tellers?

Either way, could be the best thing for all concerned. Coach takes a break and can assess both his health and if he wants to continue in his choice of occupation, bearing in mind what is involved in the job of coaching a Superleague side that is underperforming.
The club can see how the players react to the situation without the fans blaming the coach.

Its an ideal way for him to leave the club IMO. He ends up with a good win in his last game AND he doesnt get sacked which keeps his record intact, we get to see what Simms/Veivers/Alker can offer, the players can start to try and perform and impress the new bods in charge. Win-Win-Win all round for me.

And before anyone starts calling me names and start saddling up those high horses etc etc, if he is truly ill then obviously I wish him well.

I'm with you on this one Ordsall. Retires due to ill health and face saved. It's perfect!

Cheers!

Also, from that Mirror article is the following nugget of information...

Alker, 32, and director of rugby, Steve Simms, take charge because McRae’s senior No.2, Phil Veivers, is in Australia following the death of his mother.

“It’s a shock and I don’t even know what’s wrong with Shaun,” said Alker, who retired last season after more than 350 games for the club.

“We had no inkling he wasn’t feeling well last weekend.

So even his assistant didn't know anything was wrong with him?? Interesting...
Alker also goes on to say....

“The fans pay their money and have their say, and it’s the coach that gets the flak if you lose and the praise if you win.
“I am sure whatever has caused Shaun’s health problems isn’t because of the stick he’s got from supporters.
“It’s up to us all, coaches and players, to put in some good performances for when he returns.”

Well said that man.

That's not particularly surprising though.

In the last 12 months alone I have had colleagues go off sick with stress, depression, heart conditions, Crohns and cancer and had no idea that there was anything wrong with them until after they'd gone off sick.

Not everyone talks about their health at work and, if it is stress-related, not talking about it may well have made things worse.

Hope McRae is fit and well again soon.

I know from experience what stress can do. After 13 years of success with hardly a day off, I walked out of work and never went back. I'm still on medication and unfortunately I can't stop watching Salford which does me no good at all. So I do sympathise with SM. However, if he's stressed out and depressed I can't see any way back for him and it could lead to serious damage if he does.

I think JW would be doing him a favour to talk him into retirement.

I agree with you one hundred per cent.

Quote: Ordsall Quays Red "Alker, 32, and director of rugby, Steve Simms, take charge because McRae’s senior No.2, Phil Veivers, is in Australia following the death of his mother. “It’s a shock and I don’t even know what’s wrong with Shaun,” said Alker, who retired last season after more than 350 games for the club. “We had no inkling he wasn’t feeling well last weekend. '" I don't work with him on a daily basis but had my suspicions... viewtopic.php?p=15867660#p15867660

Quote: Ordsall Quays Red "Alker, 32, and director of rugby, Steve Simms, take charge because McRae’s senior No.2, Phil Veivers, is in Australia following the death of his mother. “It’s a shock and I don’t even know what’s wrong with Shaun,” said Alker, who retired last season after more than 350 games for the club. “We had no inkling he wasn’t feeling well last weekend. '" I don't work with him on a daily basis but had my suspicions... viewtopic.php?p=15867660#p15867660

some see watching salford as a kind of theropy in someways somewhere you can go and shout and scream all you want get it all out of your system, especially if your in a pressure cooker job / life its always been a form of escapism for me i surpose.

Ive always treated and will continue to treat "salford days" totally different from my "normal" life, live by a totally different set of rules works for me, for a long time in my "youth" it felt like i was living a double life until i met the wife then both worlds collided in a way, there are slight overlaps now mind.

It aint going to help mcrae or anyone suffering from stress related illnesses my ramblings i surpose its just best seeking out support from his frends, family and doctors and taking every day as it comes, he has made a good living out of coaching at the highest level so id be surprised if he still needs to do it to make ends meet, hopefully JW will pull him to one side thank him for his efforts, tell him it aint worth dying for pay his contract up and let him go work on sky part time.

His agent says it could be viral. I'm no doctor but can that be at all stress-related? If not, why is everyone blathering on about stress??

Stress can have a detrimental effect on the immune system, leaving you more open to viral attacks and other infections. It is clear that his job is a very stressful one, especially this year with expectations higher than in the past few seasons. I hope he makes a full recovery from whatever is the problem.

Oh come on please!

Don't bite


please


don't bite

Wishing Shaun McRea a speedy recovory , get well soon.