So what is this Wane fella like?

was he on the fans radar prior to the press speculation that he might get the top job?

Shaun was a Wigan prop forward during our 'golden age', when we won virtually every trophy going. If memory serves, he got Man of the Match in Wigan's 8-4 victory over Manly in the first World Club Challenge in 1987.

He's been a stalwart of the club ever since, coaching at various junior levels. Nearly all of his teams have been hugely successful, to the point where he's very widely respected in the British game. For a time before the Wigan fans realised that MM was in line for the post, many of them were hoping that Shaun would get the nod, but nearly all now recognise that it's probably too soon for Shaun, and that he'll benefit enormously from working as assistant to am expert modernist like MM. Shaun certainly takes this POV. He's apparently already had several lengthy telephone sessions with MM, as they start to devise their strategy for the new season. And has reported back with colossal enthusiasm.

He was the reserve grade coach last year and we won the Grand Final as well as finishing top after the weekly rounds. Also went a full year unbeaten.

In addition he was a Wigan player for 10 years, taking the Man of the Match at the first ever World Club Challenge against Manly.

Shaun's very much Wigan through and through and knows the expectations put upon the team. He also has very close ties with the juniors at the club having been reserves coach for the past few years and to say he doesn't suffer fools gladly would be an understatement.
I and most other fans feel he's the perfect partner to assist McGuire in getting us to the top and keeping us there.

in the video interview with Maguire, he spoke of the many chats with Lenegan.

by giving Wane a real 'lead assistant coach' role, it seems that Ian Lenegan is really shooting for a NRL style coaching system with multi coaching layers.

if Wane is an indication of that, then i'd bet Wigan will soon have a rotation of specialist coaches too assisting the staff - wrestling, leadership, boxing, sprint, power lifting, etc.

IL has been on a number of fact-finding trips to Australia, the purpose of which only now are we really learning about.

The initial assumption was that he was looking for players, but it also sounds as though he had several lengthy sessions with Wayne Bannett and Craig Bellamy about the best way forward for a club like Wigan, who are a massive name but have underperformed badly in recent years. They were the ones who directed him to Maguire, but he's clearly very impressed with the overall set-up at the Storm, which he may well be looking to emulate over here.

Just to add to what cruncher has written Lenegan has also received help from both Tony Rea and an unnamed agent in his search for the right coach.

What I found significant was the fact that Lenegan had earmarked potential signings for the future only for McGuire to see them and disprove of them.

Makes a change from our chairman signing players behind the coach's back.

When Lenegan said that McGuire had disapproved of his targets I just thought to myself good, who better than McGuire to select are overseas signings from now on. He's only just now leaving the NRL, he'l know every player inside out and with a little time over hear realising are weaknesses when it does come time to recruit I'm sure that are overseas player recruitment will improve ten fold.

8-2 wasn't it?

I'm also encouraged to hear that players 'want to play for Maguire'. That will definitely mean something when we next look Down Under.

After reading all this I will take back everything I said on Wednesday, looks like a coach that we are in need of and can look forward to watching our team again without thinking, "god do we have to go today" because sometimes over the last couple of years is how I've felt and I know many others have. Hopefully Maguire will get some passion back into the fans aswell as the players.

You're probably right. Even the fondest memories fade ...

It's a bit like when Noble came.. he was the saviour who was going to wave his magic wand. I guess we'll have to see how MM gets on but am I missing something here? This is the guys first head coach job and no matter how highly rated he is.. he will still have a learning curve. It'll be interested to see how long the Club and fans stay behind him.

I think the reason because everyone is so optimistic is because before Noble came the whole club setup was just a bit messed up, the structure within the club throughout the 1st team down to the academy is much better, the squad depth is better, and the players coming off contract next year all make it the perfect time for a new coach to come in.

Nobles set the base of the club for a new innovative coach to come in, put the finishing touches and hopefully take the team up to the next level which it just didn't look like doing under noble.

Although Maguire hasn't had a head coaching position before, 2 of the best coaches in the game rate him extremely highly and thats good enough for me.