I know an ex director who said he has already told SM, TS has gone beyond his shelf life. He also told him we need a hb and a prop.

I go plenty (no, I didn't go to Hull KR, soz) and I find it utterly unfathomable that there are adults watching Wires who want Tony Smith to go. Kids who know no better? Yeah, maybe. People who remember years and years of underachievement or outright failure that all changed when Tony Smith arrived? Absolutely unbelieveable.

You don't even need to go back to very long before Smith came in to find that failure either. Remember when Matt King was arguing with fans calling him all sorts during a 60 point humiliation in London? Remember when Michael Monaghan was being compared to Michael Sullivan? Remember when Lee Briers was being held up as a figurehead for ten years of Warringtonian underachievement and linked with a move to Dewsbury? Remember when a lifelong fan, born and bred in the town who had served the club with all his heart as a player and coach for many years was getting horrific abuse from the away end in Wigan because he just couldn't push us any further despite his best efforts? Remember when his replacement bombed in no time? Remember when a trip to Knowsley Road was about as appetising as a trip to Dignitas?

All of the above was happening as recently as 2008 or 2009, nevermind a bit further back on the crumbling terraces at Wilderspool watching Wigan win everything in sight. The club was already in the HJ, Simon Moran was already at the helm - hence why the abovementioned King and Monaghan were here in the first place, as well as the likes of Morley, Hicks et al - but Warrington were still Warrington and still not up to the job when it came to actually winning things.

If you do remember all that - and there won't be many on here who don't - then remember who changed it all and be careful what you wish for.

WE'RE ON THE MARCH WITH TONY'S ARMY

oh, in that case, everythings fine.... nothing to see here.

Of course it's not fine, but even Wigan went eight years without a trophy not so long ago and they're the biggest club in the game. Indeed without a salary cap fiddle they were punished for the following season they would have been relegated in that time. Saints who have been the most successful club overall in the Super League era went eight years without winning a Grand Final and lost five in a row. Leeds have had phenomenal success in that period (started off by Tony Smith coincidentally) but went 15 years without a Wembley win while Warrington enjoyed three. I'll leave Bradford out of it because no coach could have solved their financial problems.

The point is no club has a God given right to win everything in sight, and until that honour from upon high suddenly finds itself bestowed on Wires, I'll take a couple of transitional seasons on the chin and get behind the man who gave us our first Challenge Cup in 35 years and our most successful period overall since the 1950s. Calling for his head is absolutely outrageous.

OK lets not call for TS's head. But can we ask him to face the facts that the team look lost and disinterested at the moment. How can we have beaten Leeds twice this season and took Saints and Wigan close yet bomb against lower place teams. Even Tone can't keep blaming short turn arounds and injuries. Yes I know how many long term injuries we have, and have had, but other teams have had the same problems without looking like lost sheep. If the players attitude isn't right then it is TS's job to find out why and solve it. If he can't, or won't admit the problem, then let somebody else try - as long as it isn't Agar.
Compare our teams attitude with that of Castleford. Miles apart.

I think Warrington know exactly who they are signing.
I'm very sure we bagged a halfback when GOB got the u'turn. It maybe have been nothing more than a wink and a nod of a off record promise, but something has to attribute to that decision.
As with Clarke, at that level of patience, it must surely be a biggie.

I think a major reason that we are struggling is the amount of young lads in the team.Saints are have problems & so do Wigan. The clubs who voted to do away with intermediate age groups have done the game a great disservice by agreeing to run with under 19s then straight to superleague....maybe in a year or two the differences in playing staff will even out. The teams who are doing well this year are the ones with bulked up ,open aged ,experienced players ,no matter how mediocre they are but at least they have experience & suddenly start to look good.Admittedly, Saints & Wigan are coping better than us ,but experience does seem to be making a difference this season.

Yeah, I remember that. It was Smith's 2nd game in charge

Haha, fair tackle. You get the general point though.

I do get the general point, but I think we have to be careful with these hagiographies of Smith. His previous work with the club has been tremendous, but his current work is disappointing, to say the least. We may yet end up getting to Wembley and making the play-offs, but present form suggests this is unlikely. As many others have said, the persona he projects of not appearing to give a shiny one about the team's predicament is what bugs me the most. If it's true that he's stepping back from involvement in coaching, then we have to look at what he is actually doing. Recruitment would seem to be his bag if coaching has indeed gone by the wayside - if he can deliver a properly top-notch half-back, I'll be optimistic for next season. Otherwise, it could be time to move on.

It is disappointing that so many seem to accept failure as a strange badge of honour. If you are a company director experiencing growth after years of decline, you don't say "ah well, I've had my fill". You do everything you can to move forward. Look at the clubs who have rested on their laurels over the years- most will never recover.

Warrington have experienced very little failure under Tony Smith and a lot of failure under previous coaches.

Badge of honour or not, Tony Smith deserves nothing but 100% support from Warringtonians.

2 ways to look at this for me now....its would appear that Smith has decided that he needs to rebuild, so he needs to have a clearout... its upset a few of the senior players, who arent happy... A few have jumped ship asap.. the rest are still involved and are making things difficult.

Its not great squad management from Smith, who hasnt recruited well and is to blame for alot of the problems, if not all of them.

Do we let him cut this dead wood out, bring in new players and build a new squad around these young players? if so, then how long do we need to give him? i would say 2 years before were a top side again.

or do we say its his fault, his recruitment has been poor and bring in another possibly younger coach to move us forward.

The obvious problems in the squad could be solved with a clean slate and a new start....

maybe Smith can rebuild the squad and give us a grand final winning team..... Personally i don't think he can from this position... he couldnt bring us a grand final winning team with Morley, Briers, Hodgson, Carvell, King etc....

As has been pointed out he's been at the helm of the greatest Warrington side in recent memory and failed to deliver the top prize. We were the best side for three years on the trot and have no title to show for it. Saints won a grand final with a pretty average squad and we fail with a great side. I can't think of another coach I'd want at present and smith not only needs to turn it around but really kick on too...this should be a golden era. I believe kyle eastmond will be helping us out soon