It's difficult to make informed comments on the Noble situ at Wigan, because throughout his tenure there've been stories that he's unsettled and looking elsewhere. There've also been reports that he doesn't like the chairman and has had rows with him.

Are these true? If so, maybe it won't come as a wrench for either party if his contract is not renewed. But telling someone they won't have a job in four month's time is bound to cause some kind of fall-out, and who knows what form that could take.

If we're at rock-bottom by mid-season (and it's far too early to assume that yet), it won't matter. The management won't have any choice and Noble won't have an argument.

The problem for IL will be if we're there or thereabouts again, with a reasonable chance of making the top tier but not looking particularly impressive on the field.

How do we respond to that?

Sacking the coach under those circumstances could mess things up big time. Given that most fans' frustrations at present seem to be ed around our lack of improvement rather than our lack of trophies, I don't think they would regard it as too high a price to pay. But it might be too high for IL if no other coaching options are available - and they may not be if he leaves it until the mid-season stage.

It's a very difficult balancing act that needs to be struck here, and all I can say is that I'm glad it's not my choice.

I'm in the results camp, but its to early to panic yet although I have my doubts that Noble will deliver

I don't think IL will terminate early because it will involve cash, so I'm going for his contract not to be renewed

I was told by an ex-player yesterday that the payoff that would be required should Noble be sacked is the single biggest reason that he's still at the club. Now whether this comes from genuine inside knowledge or is just guess work I couldn't tell you.

this seems the most likely, however if performances don't improve in say 10 game's time, then surely he has no option

Ten? I'd say half that.

His contract is up for renewal at the end of the season so lets for the sake of argument say he earns £100K a season (could be more, could be less but whatever).

IL has a choice. He can either pay it him in one go if he sacks him or he can not sack him and pay it him anyway as his wages for the season which he will have to do if he stays. Either way this season Noble will pocket that £100K.

If he had several years to run on his contract that would be different but since he hasn't and only has this season to go sacking him would not involve paying him any more money than he would get if he saw the season out.

Of course IL would have to pay another coaches wages but I'd hazard a guess Noble is on a huge deal due to the way he was recruited and the circumstances at the time. So a new coach may not cost as much to run.

If things continue to go badly and IL won't sack Noble because of the pay off then while he will be prepared to sit there and watch the side be badly coached he might find the fans are not. So it would be false economy anyway.

Dave

It doesn't have to work like that though. We all know how much Dave Whelan loves the pitch at the JJB. So why not to show how committed we are to the stadium company, supply the best paid groundsman in the country! To be fair I would sometimes rather watch Noble cutting grass than the style of rugby he likes Wigan to play.

This would not mean terminating his contract but changing his duties, thus I think there would be no need for a pay off. Of course the above is an exaggeration but if the club wanted to replace him they could.

I would think a Coach's contract is no different to a players and if a player isn't cutting it, there is no obligation to utilize him week in/out.

That's a bloody good thought, marginalise the guy. The only downside are1) we need someone to come in and take the position.
2) we'd need to ensure that, if Noble has cronies within the club, they tow the party line and not Noble's.[/list

Unless he had built into his contract a set dismissal fee regardless of how long was to run on his contract.

Heres Nobbys Previous Record at the Bulls and of course he has coached GBWhilst head coach of Bradford Bulls, 'Nobby' guided the Bulls to two Minor Premiership titles, victory in three Grand Finals in 2001 , 2003 and 2005, the Challenge Cup in 2003 and to three World Club Championships in 2002, 2004 and 2006.[/i

We have been one victory away from the GF in the last two seasons being knocked out at Headingley by the eventually winners. Nobby knows when the team need to peak which is in the playoffs. Peaking in pro sport is an art form now and Nobby and Forshaw will have a plan when this is supposed to happen if they get it right then we will come home with our tails up at the business end of the season.

Why are fans panicing after two games and booing the team off, are we that fickle? Some of us still trudge off with 10mins to go, whats that about, got a pan of chips on? You dont win SL by thumping Wake at home in the first game.

Ive heard one or two people suggesting that Nobby gets the chop and we bring Ellery or Shaun Edwards, what can they do that Nobby doesnt already, they dont know the team any better. Lets not get into a Football mentality of sack the coach when it doesnt go rite all the time.

Riddell has not set the world on fire yet but the guy had a bad knee injury at Parra at the end of last season, why do the whingers on the GMR phone in seem to think a week in Lanzarote will suddenly make supermen out of the squad, every other team has a pre-season camp too!!!

The key will be plays four and five will be the key this year down the oppositions end of the field, we will have to see if Smith can fill Barretts boots.

Dont panic Mr Mannering, Keep the Faith.

Its not 2 games though its 2 seasons of consistantly poor performance.

Its great coming home with our tails up, but pointless is we have given ourselves too much to do.

A new coach you would hope would alter our game plan that is the single most self destructive i have ever seen in pro rugby, to name 1 of many other advantages of brining in a new coach.

I dont agree mate, one win away from the GF last two seasons, beaten by the winners.

But what about all the boring crap you had to watch leading up to the play offs? Doesn't the quality of our play concern you at all?

Yes it does especially when Saints play an exciting brand of RL. But looking at Nobbys achievements to date we havent dont that bad i dont think. We are over loaded on backs so maybe moving the ball a bit more would be pleasing on the eye. I met Tony Smith two years ago and he said that Leeds and Saints make the most errors in their own 22, but are the most successfull teams.

To answer your question we are methodical and boring but havent gone too bad.

I'm in the pro Noble camp too!
Just don't see the point of unloading him at all. Whoever came in things wouldn't be able to change quickly.
He and IL have achieved a lot. Our team was a shambles and heading for NL1. He kept us up but the inherited problems will take years to resolve.
He is trying to establish a squad that will play together for years by bringing in the accelerate squad as a direct pathway to the first team.
End of this season a number of players will go but perhaps none from our academy. They will provide the bedrock of our squad for years to come.
He will replace those that leave by better players as he has done this year and that can only be done at the end of players' contracts.
The rugby has been poor to watch but some of our players aren't the best.
My worry is that he'll walk or take up a better offer.
I can't see Tony Smith lasting in the England job and Noble could do that full time no problem and bring success to the national squad.
Unless he gets that job or one in Aus I would rather him stay.
Stability at Wigan is still needed, he and Ian Lenagan are bringing that.