Chris Irvine on Twitter...

Robert Powell is the new Harlequins #rugbyleague coach. Not the Jesus Robert Powell, though he might have been handy at the Stoop.

Rob Powell announced on Facebook.

www.league.quins.co.uk/news/12807.php and on the club website

www.league.quins.co.uk/news/12807.php and on the club website

Oh dear.

PMSL @ the website:

Rob Powell's "long and distinguished pedigree"

I mean I don't mind you talking him up for his association with the club, but don't talk such blatant bollox.

Oops. Anyone care to bet on us NOT finishing bottom next season?

If we sign Monoghan I would

Give the coach the players and I reckon he will be OK. Remember, Arsene Wenger was not a good player himself.

There are three scenarios to bear in mind here:

1) We're hardly awash with cash and Powell is the cheap option

2) Hughes has appointed Powell on the basis of his prior association with the club, his rapport with senior players and his belief, like McDermott before him, in "The London Project"

3) No-one else of any reasonable pedigree wanted the job (even though various media reported Jon Sharp interested, a vastly more experienced coach than Powell)

If we want to focus on the positives, we can dwell on number 2. Powell has already begun the pre-season with the squad. But one cannot help but overlook his lack of experience, which I'd argue with such a young team is exactly what would be needed.

I really hope he does the business but I can't help feel it's a question of how long before he is sacked or a director of rugby is employed. At least he understands the London systems and the London scene and can sell the London vision to potential players, but I am not sure this will be enough.

That can't be the attitude that Hughes takes and knowing his recent track record I would have thought it isn't. If we're going to go down this route, Powell deserves the same time McDermott was afforded in order to give the job a fair crack. IMO, that's at least a season and possibly two.

I will take that bet now. Cas, Wakey and Crusaders all look shaky and if we get a good start I think we will be OK. We need a couple more quality players but if we avoid injury to the key players we should be do OK. We have no cash so we can't really expect much better.

Oh well have to be honest and it wouldnt have been my first choice as head coach,just like a few others on here. thats only down to his age and lack of experience.

But now he is i wish him the best of luck. At least he has the backing of the senior players in the squad so that has to be a start. I'm sure DH wouldnt have gone down this road (even if are cash stapped) if he didnt think the players would be happy with RP at the helm he wouldnt have given him the job and looked else where.

So now its over with, lets move on and hope we get to hear of at least a couple more signing very soon, either loaners or perm signings. Like been said a few times we have amix of youth and experience,so some more players with experience would be a good thing and im sure help RP in a lot of ways

funny now things went quiet on Anthony Cherrington from the Roosters. and the Wigan loaners (did hear we could take Josh Charnley).Stil perfer us to made a bid on Monaghan.

On the business of 'No cash' didn't some posters indicate that there were investors out there but they wouldn't come forward as long as Lenaghan was the major shareholder. Well, now that he has handed over his shares, where are these people?

That's the problem with imaginary investors - they can prove quite elusive