But no matter who takes over there will always be someone who has '[iheard[/i' that IL makes all the signings and the coach has no say.

At the shareholders meeting someone suggested that we should go back to the "old way" of the board picking the players and the coach coaching them.

IL said that was not his way, and the coach had the say on which players were brought in, but obviously he (IL) had the final veto as to whether we could afford them.

So who offered Sean Long a deal?

I can say that i like strawberrys and you would believe it but it doesnt mean a great deal.

And that’s the way it should always be imo.

Do you remember the last Wigan coach that was given full access to sign who he wanted? We ended up swapping the then current GB hooker for a one trick scooting pony!

There always has to be that control imo.

Or if he hasn't heard it, he'll simply make it up to suit his agenda, no matter how ludicrous it sounds - as RHJ's strawberry analogy amply illustrates

It’s all IL fault and we are all doomed!!

In the space of two days you’ve managed to call IL a to$$er and a liar! Well done……….

True but he poses a genuine question IMO. Who offered Sean Long a deal?

I dont see how that has anything to do with Sean Long being offered a deal do you?

Would you expect Noble to have been involved in that given that both he and IL knew he'd have no part to play at Wigan next season?

Depends when the offer was made. I'm sure it was months ago when Long announced he would be moving to Hull but IL only made his mind up about Noble "3 or 4 weeks ago".

Personally I don't think Noble was consulted nor the new coach. I also don't think either would have been involved in the decision to renew Coley and Pryce's contracts. Purely my IMO though of course.

That would have been IL but we couldn't stop the recruitment process just because we were waiting for a new coach to get a visa. Who's to say that Maguire/Wane weren't consulted regarding Long or even Webb?

Who's to say an actual deal was offered? As far as I'm aware it was an enquiry to his availability which wasn't taken any further due to his wage demands.

No one. I'm just speculating that they weren't. If I were the new coach I wouldn't want to be linked with any move to bring Sean Long to this club. Whoever made that decision is clearly out of touch with the Wigan fans feelings towards this player as evidenced by the thread when we were linked with him.

It's obviously IL isn't it Woody.

Look at it this way;

On the one hand you have people like RHJ calling for Noble to be given till the end of the season to prove his worth

On the other hand you have people like RHJ slating IL for going for players that are out there mid season? Who else is gonna sign them? The coach he’s not allowed to sack or the new coach coming on Wednesday which is far too late to sign anyone?

You can’t have your cake and eat it! Either give Noble time and jeopardise any possible recruitment or tell Noble mid season he’s not going to get a new contract and recruit another guy for the next season and let them pick the players he wants.

He can’t win as he’s dammed if he does and he’s dammed if he doesn’t.

I agree it would actually be an issue if it happened next season when a coach is in place but the current situation IL is in is a tough one either way.

That's exactly what I heard.

No chairman worth his salt would let a player like Long announce that he was available without at least enquiring.

But you've got to admit, it's a killer. Even in the event that Mike McGuire may sign in two days's time as Wigan's head coach, the anti-IL Brigade are more interested in what they consider to be the latest chink of weakness that they've found in the chairman's armour.

AILB: Shock, horror - how dare you talk to Sean Long without first consulting your coach (even though he was leaving, and even though the new one was still unsure whether he could come because he was trying to sort out his visa)!

IL: Listen, on Wednesday we may be able to report that one of the most exciting young coaches in the NRL - not my words, those of Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy - is joining Wigan.

AILB: Yes, but what about Sean Long?

IL: What about Michael McGuire?

AILB: Michael McGuire is irrelevant in the light of this devastating development. You had the nerve to speak to Sean Long's agent without - we assume - consulting your outgoing coach. That should be of far more importance to all those Wigan fans who put absolute integrity ahead of advancing the club's interests.

It's a difficult one, isn't it?

I know, I was being mischievous. The point I was making was he showed bad judgement in making this approach.

I like IL but he too has his flaws and I was just trying to highlight this.

If he felt Noble wasn't the right man for the job he should have been in consultation with the new man with regards player recruitment for next year. As it is it looks like he's gone it alone. Hopefully Maguire can persuade someone to come with him.