I have played five seasons of Rugby League Roy as a Prop or Second Row seeing my club win two championships and the SRL plate, have followed the game for around seventeen years, have two degrees including a Bachelors in Organizational Psychology and a range of contacts who have been or still are part of the London Broncos. I have also been to the majority of game home and away and seen for myself what has gone on in person.

There has been a generally negative aura and body language from the players and Rob Powell since the Warrington game last season and it has been blindingly obvious that the organizational culture has been one in which players are not performing to their best. That is players of all standards.

With two separate squads and round about forty players appearing at first team level I'm struggling to name anyone who looks better than when they first appeared in the squad

I'm genuinely not aware of any of the club's youth squads (from foundation to under 18s or under 20s) having had a winning record in the years Powell has been involved, save for the season when we lost at home to Huddersfield in the play-offs about five years ago.

As for players brought through on his watch - Louie, Tony Clubb and Mike Worrincy were introduced before he arrived. Tony Rea discovered Will Sharp. I'd suggest that most of his discoveries are at London Skolars apart from the exciting crop of young backs and Jamie O'C.

Even if you are the former St Helens Prop - which in itself is not a qualification but gains respect - you'd be unable to argue that there has been a general improvement or name specific players who've improved. In fact I'd put it to you that you'll simply put a barrage of comments about me together instead rather than name names. But I'm not a public figure.

Just a long suffering fan struggling to come to terms with why our club has broken the time honoured tradition of giving someone the sack but then offering them a job. Rewarding failure. Perhaps I am maleovelent to question why someone who has brought the club to its knees should remain. I think he must be distanced from the first team not just for his gardening leave but forever if truth be told. Even if he is someone you know - he is a negative force, rather than a negative commentator.

He's carried the can for disappointing results and been sacked. You and others have got the outcome you wanted. The flip side is that a young man who's spent his entire adult life working to help the sport in London just had his career shredded. Writing an essay on why he should find it impossible to rebuild it and should have never had it in the first place is just unpleasant, bordering on obsessive.

He got the bullet. There's no need to dance on his grave. Move on.

Roy is spot on.

Mark, sadly on this occasion I agree with Roy, it is time to move on and as I said I wish Rob the best in the future, I think he has something to offer the game but it is with youth development.

[url=http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/sport/9829164.Rea_hopes_Powell_remains/Tony Rea wants him to stay........[/url

#markrammondwontbehappyifheeveris

Think Powell would have had more respect if he had just buggered off or at least asked for his old job back rather than hanging around in the full knowledge that he couldnt handle the task. Should have stepped down ages ago but stuck around for the pay cheque in doing so leaving himself open to critiscm, also loosing a lot of fans respect. Its pro sport and like it or not you will always be judged on performance but Towell seems to be avoinding the bullett and i dont think that sends out a good message. We need a club of winners or at least a winning mentality. Not sure if Powell has that, it would seem the players dont think he does?
Dont see anything wrong with Marks comments tbh, nothing personal in his opinion that i can read. Anyway time to look forward with optimism at last.

There must be a role in the club for RP...jeez, we're short on numbers in all areas.

I bet if Nobby came here, the first thing he'd want is about 3 or 4 assistants to help him. I would think the London Head Coach role job descrip covers a lot more than coaching the first team squad.

I haven't lost any respect for RP because he didn't resign. The Senior players backed RP for the job so they must have thought he had some attributes, and CG certainly was backing RP in the interviews I read (though that was a couple of months back).

Time may tell how much of the mediocrity this season has been down to RP or the players. I'm hoping it's mainly RP's fault or else we are in big trouble next year ,with so many players already contracted for next season.

Cullen at Widnes
TR at the Broncos
McRea and or Simms at the Reds

Just of the top of my head.

Great post, completely agree.

roy! Have to agree with you, the management at the club obviously thought he had all the skills that Mark reckons he has not got

If he was not suitable in the first place then blame the bloke that gave him the job!
Maybe he was given the poison chalice coz the club could not get or afford anyone else.
I still say it runs deeper than RP

Rob Did not train it in to the boys to drop the ball
he did not train the boys to give away so many penalties
He did not train it in to the boys to be pretty innept at tackling!!!
It was an attitude that crept in to the players and the club very early on this season! call it confidence if you want, or lack of!
You critisise him for the players having an input! are there not comments on this thread saying its down to the senior players to take an active role

I do not begrudge the bloke a position at the club! he was thrown in at the deep end! with the experience of the playing staff we should have done better.
How do you know he did not try to say I am not coming up with the goods i will resign and been asked to stay by the management until they found someone else

Or, another way of seeing it:


In all fairness though, no grudges against the bloke, he obviously tried his best but was out of his depth. Hope he can bring some positivity to the club in his new role, now let's leave the man be and move forwards!

A lack of fitness does all of that as it does make you lose games in the last 20 minutes of each half.

I suspect when he looks back on his time as the No 1 this will be an area he will regret- the total lack of fitness in the squad.