I agree that we don't know exactly what happened, but as the club dropped a rather large hint that it was a discipline matter, and given Long's history of extreme indiscipline, I think most people are putting two and two together and making four, regardless of who he once played for.

Also, I doubt you'll get any more facts than we've already been given.

IMO there are some players that aren't cut out to be top coaches. They just go in to coaching and get jobs on their reputation as a player and because they have friends in high places from their playing days.

It's one thing if you are a hot head player becoming a manager and trying to impose discipline on players (like Di Canio or Mancini) but another if you were a player that had disciplinary problems off the field in your playing days. I don't think players really respect coaches when they know they were that sort of troublemaker in their playing days.

Nothing to do with Saints for me it was more his behavioural issues, the man seems to have a real problem with making good decisions, as such I didn't want him near our impressionable youngsters. If it had been Sculthorpe or Cunningham I don't think anyone would have had a problem with it

SSN ticker saying it was wages issues.

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So ... Longy signed a contract and then decided that it wasn't enough?

That would be about right.

Well said.

Should never have been employed by the club in view of the reason why the club got rid of him many season's ago.

You didn't do too bad with Ellery Hanley or Jim Sullivan and I suspect if SE had become your coach, you wouldn't be in the mess you are at present.

They didn't do so bad under Wigan legend Eric Ashton either, who coached them to a very comprehensive Challenge Cup win over the so-called Cup Kings of that era.

Exactly. Those who questioned his appointment have been proved right IMO. Reasons for not being in favour were all about his character not his technical ability. That press statement tells you those doubts were well founded.

I will say again, we simply do not know what has gone on. Pointless to speculate.

Well there won't be any further statement from the club as that is the way they do things.

And isn't that what forums are for ? To speculate in the absence of facts ?

That's human nature isn't it afterall ?

Never stopped any of us on here before!

True and True Fleabag, however, this one seems a bit of a dead rubber.

We are unlikely to find out the truth.

Longy has already written his biography

And that is also a load of s****

I agree with you 100%, I know sometimes what people say or speculate on, without knowing the full facts can be a bit of a turn off to others, and a little infuriating, but that’s what these boards are all about IMO. To me it’s like sitting around a table in the boozer with your mates and gobbing off about SL, RL and almost anything else we like. Sometimes getting and giving a bit of slag adds to the spice. All I can say to those who don’t like certain posts, or comments, then don’t go there, find something else!

One thing you need to realise, is this is a public forum. Anything you say, which may be considered libellous, the board can get into serious trouble for. It isn't just like gobbing off with your mates, as that is a private conversation. That's not to say we cannot speculate or offer our opinions, there is a fine line though.

What? My post or his book?

Good response.

Unless Longy decides to add a few more pages to his book!

You'll be glad to know then that he planning on releasing another one

will it get dark tonight?

I take your point and agree, but my expression of gobbing off was not meant to indicate very foul language, libellous statements, or over-done aggression. No I meant a vigorous and honest exchange of views on SL, RL and other subject of interest to the writers. Having said that I see nothing wrong with the use of colourful language to make a point when necessary, especially if it’s used against me first, after all let’s not forget we are all adults. Let’s keep within the rules, but just stretch em a bit at times. lol

That made me laugh !

The line about disciplined and high performing sounds a bit one sided. I'd imagine the discipline referred to is being in at nine, working 'til five, following the drills and structure passed down to the under 19s from the first team, not telling teenagers great stories of how you've won practically everything in your career (and often more than once) when perhaps only giving 95% in preparation.

To anyone who knows some of the individuals involved at the club, its clear that Long has a different mentality to his work and sport than the likes of Wane and Harris, both of whom could be deemed dour in comparison.

Long has all the playing experience, plenty of respect from peers and just requires some more coaching experience under different head coaches to become a terrific coach. He may need a little more maturity but again, anyone who knows him knows he is no longer the complete tool he was.