Paul Rowley. The current squad have asked the board to appoint Rowley as full time coach. However, they have formally now offered it to Ritchie Blackmore, who is awaiting the work permit descision by the UK boarders agency. They favour Blackmore over Adamson after the formal interviews.

According the the RL press this morning.

This kind of report, (true or otherwise) is making the whole process difficult.
Would you want to be Richie Blackmore, and be walking into that situation?
Maybe it is best (and cheapest) to appoint Paul Rowley, especially in a season where results don't matter.

Why dont results matter this season? The results most certainly do matter as we need to get the average gates up to be able to apply for super league next time round. Any one who thinks this season doesnt matter is deluded. I personally think appointing Paul Rowley as coach would be a big mistake, he should stick to what he is good at and that seems to be getting the fitness levels where they need to be. If he does get appointed then why have we even bothered with this farce of getting people like Ritchie Blackmore and Matt Adamson over? If this appointement is made it should have been done months ago instead of dragging it out like it has been. We are into pre-season and still no coach appointed! Only at Leigh!

My understanding is the hold up is down to work permits rather than the club.

Its a bizaar version of events.

I too would have given Rowley the job as he knows all the enablers that works for Millward and it would have been far cheaper. BUT reading between the lines, If the players indeed want Paul to be coach, then there is a reason for it. If this is the case, then I am with the board on this one. If Blackmore ticks the right boxes, and keeps the players focussed, then that will do for me. Either way, Paul is a great number 2 !

I was told the players liked Adamson although he din't take a session, Blackmore was a nice bloke and did take a session but his methods were 6mths behind what Millward was doing, i would give it to Rowley also.

Paul should be given the job.He has worked alongside Ian Millward for 2 years and so will be up todate on coaching methods and tactics.He deserves his chance dispite what posters may say who have axes to grind with Paul and Allan

Looks like the board have waited to get the man they wanted.
Must admit I thought Rowley didn't want it as if he did I would have thought he would have got the job.
Whoever it is its going to be a very tough act to follow Millward , especially as its less than 4 weeks until our first pre season game and the Coach isn't even here yet so not much time to really run the rule over players he won't have signed !

IF it were up to the players, we'd play all our games on a fri night, and have rowley as top dog, i disagree strongly with both those desires of the players. he is probably a top bloke, and a true leyther, but i do not want him as head coach.

Well i know one player who is very unhappy at Friday night games.

I think it is a dangerous position for the players to want a coach or even manipulate the decision of which coach to have. There should be a business type barrier between coach and players to keep a proffesional air at a club. I'm not saying they should dislike each other but they shouldn't be best pals either. There were rumours before about Pauls influence in the changing room with other coaches when our form dipped. If Paul gets the job it should be because he is the best available for the money that we can afford and no other reason.

Crap thread, if a coach is appointed because the players like him then it is time to pack in.

I heard that just before Blakemore and Adamson returned home Paul Rowley asked them to leave the training area commenting "I'm sorry guys I am trying to prepare the lads for the pre-season games, can you give me some space"

I was told Paul didn't want it, and he's doing a great job as assistant, he got them all very fit, last season and it was very much a big bearing on how we started the season last year.

Well if true, they 'll never forget that, should they get the gig!!!