It’s interesting that Middleton is going to Australia. You would assume that a shortlist has been drawn up, let’s face it this hasn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

The urgency of it all seems to point in the direction of Holbrook, and it makes a lot of sense. I just hope that this isn’t just a case of flying out to find anyone who is willing to chat with us. I don’t want him coming home with Griffin, Barrett or Siebold simply because they are available.

Still, I know it’s a long shot to say the least, but a call with Tony Smith has to take place, even if just to rule it out. He’s setting up the same project at Hull, bringing Grix in as number 2 with the aim for him to succeed him. But these are Warrington men. While they don’t owe us anything, they have the ear of the fans and I think they would connect well with the supporters/community and start to repair the damage on day one.

The club can’t get this wrong. We can’t put in another abrasive individual who gets an already vulnerable/volatile group of players and fans wound up. We need someone with either proven winning credentials, or someone with credit in the bank at Warrington. Ideally both.

It’s time to be bold and set the course for the future of the club. We need to be talking to Robinson. We should even be looking at Gould/Bennett and seeing if they would be interested in a project to reinvent the team, with a younger coach at the helm.

New coach OUT!!!!!

[size=50Is it too soon?[/size

If we do get Holbrook, it would be fantastic, though I just can't see it.

What is it though with our players. They threw Smith under the bus at the end, wouldn't turn up for big games under Price bar one, and they've thrown Powell under the bus. There must be something rotten within our club. Shame a win bonus can't be factored into the wage structure as I'm fairly sure that would make a difference.

Robinson or Bennett would not come over here IMO. Both are guaranteed a job in the NRL when one becomes available. Holbrook is the obvious candidate although I'm not sure whether he'd uproot his family again as I believe he's settled in Australia.

Justin Morgan might be worth a shout.

Holbrook is a big fat no for me and judging by reports in the Aussie media he has no intention of returning to the UK anyway.
I'd love Monas as coach, as a player he was the ultimate pro, intelligent and tough. He was always going to make a top class coach.

I think it’s a broader problem at the club than just the players. Lest face it, the whole squad now is new, same result. It’s almost like that spoilt kid at college who got a brand new mini for their first car and treated it like a go cart because daddy would pay for it to get fixed regardless. Whereas if you have earned the money to buy that car yourself, you know how much it’s worth and look after it properly.

We’ve never had to “live within our means”. We just throw money at problems. It’s time to knuckle down and work with THIS squad, not just sack everyone whose face doesn’t fit. No paying off contracts, no loaning out first team players, no buying in quick fixes. There are players in this group that with the right coaching can go up a level. There are juniors who, with the right exposure and coaching can supplement the team and challenge the starters. We can’t keep having squad turnover in double figures. There are some approaching the end of their playing career, so there’s opportunity for fresh blood, but it can’t be wholesale clear outs again.

Agree with all this. Btw, I wasn't suggesting that we sack the players, just questioning why the same thing seems to happen no-matter which players have been brought in and you've made some great points here.

Interested outsider looking in ... if the reports of pro-Maguire and pro-Charnley factions within the camp are true (and I can certainly see this being the case) the incoming Coach will start with one hell of a problem. As such, it strikes me that a dominant personality with excellent man-management skills is a must.

Channel 9’s Danny Weidler in Australia has confirmed that despite those discussions the Newcastle club have no plans to replace current coach Adam O’Brien. He was told in a meeting this morning.

Fingers crossed. It would be the best signing since Briers if he were to come.

An Aussie could be a wise move as it may settle some of the antipodean players who have sided with Mcguire. Vaughan and Dufty are quality on their day and it would be a big loss to lose those .

Do I have this correct that Newcastle Knights' assistant coaches are Michael Monaghan and Brian McDermott?

I wouldn't mind Brian McDermott.

Also are there any work permit rules that will restrict who we can get? Do they have to have worked as an NRL head coach or international coach in the last X months?

Yeah but we know the cycle of Wire coaches, its the same as England football.

English coach fails, we say "we need the best from wherever they are in the world".

Bring in an Aussie coach, then we start hearing about how there are cliques in the squad and certain players are "undroppable" because they are Aussies meanwhile young English talent is farmed out on loan.

Aussie coach gets sacked, then the call goes out "we need an up and coming English coach or somebody who played for Warrington and understands what it means to wear the primrose and blue jersey".