No idea, but IIRC Whitehaven fans hated him when he was coaching them. Might be worth a shout as an assistant.

Brian has been looking for a new job for at least the last six months with his wife relocating many months ago back to the north. He was declined by Bradford so Leeds was probably his only other viable option as he is still perceived as being prestigious in some ways to these clubs.

With the other roles being filled in Super League his other options may have been to become a Head Coach at a lower league club in Yorkshire where he is still well recognised or an Assistant Coach at a Super League club, so he has done well for himself. In many ways, such is the playing roster at Leeds that it is almost a no-fail role so I am sure he will provide adequate support.

His role was no longer viable at Quins as he lost the support over the past 18 months, bar a tiny minority whose mind is filled with his one good half season which ended in June 2009 rather than the reality of losing something like 30 out of 37 games.

His role became untenable when It made it impossible for David to yet again re-sign older players or even back his judgement given Mac's record of paying David's money as a pension or pension top-up to people who were finished or terminally in decline and who had an appalling injury record over many years. Danny Orr was caught up in the mess - when he was not to blame and has played well but it shows that trust had gone and David would not be bitten yet again.

I personally feel that he is bad at identifying talent and that this is his single biggest failing as a Head Coach. It is very hard to really see in 5 seasons what he has bought that has improved the team. In many ways most of the better players are in fact still those acquired when Tony Rea was in direct control or 'tipping' Brian off as the Director - e.g. Chad Randall, Karl Temata, David Howell and of courser Louie, Tony and Will.

I would argue Mac has largely failed to replace the likes of McLinden, Haumono, Hopkins, Paul and many other players with anything approaching an equal standard whilst he has burnt Quins badly with signings/renewals of older players incapable of playing or doing anything much beyond getting paid. He has also failed with many youngsters e.g. Tootill, Bannister, Esders, A.Smith, Kaye, James, D.Williams, May, Grayshon, Barker etc. Perhaps more importantly he has lost some of the London jewels in Sharp (who was offered just a one year deal when Wells got two years) and Louie.

Where he has done better is in the signings of Jones-Bishop, Dorn, Golden and Gale but for every good signing there has been two or more bad signings/re-signings and time and time again the overseas register has been empty with players of a National League standard signed or resigned prior to all joining Widnes!

If Leeds were to consider him and overlook his win record then he will need to present a less unacceptable face to the public and move away from making negative and at times inappropriate comments after each performance if he is not to be perceived badly, like Mick Potter is at St Helens and he was at Quins.

I am sure that he has every chance of being in the running for Head Coach at both England and Bradford Bulls once they are available again in two years if he is willing to change, and maybe at Leeds, but I do not think he will change so I do not wish him well for the future as I have not enjoyed his tenure and think he is sure to fail unless in a no-fail role - Leeds are a great club of champions and who could not assist Bluey and still win games? I note that Mac as assistant at Huddersfield when the club was struggling did not move things on.

Funnily enough as a Bolton Wanderers supporter he reminds me of Gary Megson in his approach.

With kind regards
Mark

Would pretty much agree with all of that except to say that I see even less in terms of his good signings if you take on BJB being offered to us on loan, and Dorn resigning after not being offered a contract by.......err BM.

I had thought something was on the cards for sure when he stopped doing his programme notes. Hopefully the club has seen it coming for that same length of time and formulated a strategy moving forwards and get the best man for the job they can.

I pretty much agree with all of this. Very sad news indeed.

Cringing at those thinking this is "excellent" news. I hope BM goes onto achieve massive success with Leeds to show what a decent coach he is with sufficient resources to play with.

Just hope DH has the right idea as replacement. liked His comments on the Quins website.

You've changed your tune!!!

My principal emotion is relief. I've no axe to grind against the man personally, I've never met him, but I've never during his tenure been 100% convinced by him as a head coach. He lacked Tony Rea's shrewdness in the transfer market and tactical nous. He has failed to get the best out of any number of overseas players, although I'll concede on this point that he's also been unlucky with injuries.

I maintain that this is a year too late - he'd taken the team as far as he could last season, the slide towards the end of 2009 told much. I won't pretend to know the ins and outs but I sensed that he didn't have the full confidence the squad this year. What we have now is an opportunity for a fresh start - I'd personally like an overseas coach (Where did Wigan find Michael Maguire and could we get someone similar please!) and for the first time in four years some decent recruitment - grabbing Penny from Warrington would be a good start, as he looked hungry and dangerous.

Leeds coach in 12 months? they must be barmy.

I changed my tune after actually attending some of our games this season

Great news. We no longer have to watch the dross he serves up every week. He wont make it as a head coach at SL level.

Not wishing to incurr the wrath of a bored moderator by turning yet another thread into a 'The Marketing World according to Gutterfax" but I challenge that presumption.
It would seem that he has done all he can at Quins RL and is to be thanked for his commitment to the cause. Regardless of his supposed failings as a coach, he genuinely believed in the future of London RL and should be proud of what he has tried to achieve in his time at the club.
Off to leeds to be groomed by bluey and then to take over at Leeds? God help him if that lot get on his back ....he'll be straight back down here

Note presumably

er,,,,,,,I did.

It is this same presumption that has been the backbone of every marketing activity run by the club over the last 15 years and that is why I challenge it.
On the coaching front, I would go for an internal promotion.......if, as Listy maintains the coach was not to blame for the performance of the team since summer 2009, then it makes no difference who DH chooses.......Rob Powell and Latham Tawhai as Joint Head coaches? If DH is set on his assertion that we will play Kids next year with little if any recruits brought in from outside, then increase both these guys salaries by 20% and save the remainder of Macs salary for another department to use
Young coaches with a young team of local talent....ticks a fair few RFL boxes and saves a few bob as well.......

Spot on all points.

I think Denis Betts could be a good appointment.

This may be totally incorrect due to the mists of time, but I did think that DB was not a great fan of the London "experiment" in some of his interviews in the past?