For a new coach! Now if and that's a big if our performances improve when we get a full 1st team on the pitch do we stick with Lam (That's if he wants to stay) or do we go for someone else? I've no idea who tho! Thoughts please

I think I’m right in saying Lam only ever wanted one season before going back to the NRL? I personally feel we need a new coach, Lam was dealt a shocking hand with no say over signings given Edwards was due to come in in November.

At the moment though we need stability. It’s only April yet it feels like we’ve had a full season of downs with little up turns. This Friday is an opportunity for one, beating Saints at home when no one expects us too? That’s a statement, that’s an upturn and that puts to bed once and for all the SE saga.

As for a new coach, I’m not advocating him for the Head Coach role (yet) but I sure wouldn’t mind seeing a role for James Ford. He’s done fantastic at York and looks like a real up and comer. Equally I would like to see Deacon and Harris brought back to run our attack.

I hoped we'd get an NRL coach with Harris as his asst.
Surely though the search can't just be starting now? Edwards virtually gave back word after the 6 Ntns. The club may well have started putting feelers out then. I hope so!

Current odds

Adrian Lam 2/1 Shaun Wane 3/1 Chris Chester 5/1 Denis Betts 6/1 Paul Deacon 6/1 Shane Flanagan 8/1 Anthony Griffin 12/1 Tony Smith 12/1 Ian Watson 12/1 Trent Barrett 12/1 Neil Henry 16/1 Sean O’Loughlin 20/1 Jason Demetriou 20/1 Mick Potter 20/1 Daryl Powell 25/1 Steve McNamara 33/1 Steven Kearney 33/1 Michael Maguire 50/1 Wayne Bennett 50/1 Craig Bellamy 50/1

Can't say I'm impressed by any of the short odds options.

The problem IL has got is persuading anyone who isn't desperate for a job to come here given it is fairly obvious there are issues with the squad. He's got to persuade them they can address these issues and have the money and cap space to do it.

When IL first took over we signed players like Mathers and Pryce. At the time most people accepted this because IL was saying the cap had been mismanaged and there was little room to maneuver. We seem to be right back to square one on that score and I don't see that as an attractive proposition for a new coach who is secure in their position like Chester. My guess is therefore we will end up with Lam.

Who ever it is they need to have no connection to Wigan, ie No ex players or coaching staff, Lam excluded seeing as he is already here

I would offer Lam a 3 year deal and let him build a squad that can implement what he wants to do. There have been promising signs with the ball recently even though we are down to the bare bones. I dont think it will be a quick fix whoever gets it and I think a bit of patience in Lam might well be the way to go. He is highly thought of in Australia as an up and coming coach and I think he would be a success story long term

Wane with an attacking coach ........?

I’m far from convinced by Lam,and if I’m honest I think he’s come for the year and a year it will be,no family apart from FaceTime/Skype must be a huge issue so unless mrs Lam decides to trade the weather in Oz for the weather in Whelley I don’t think he will stay

Fingers crossed he takes himself out of the running because he's been an unmitigated disaster as Head Coach.

I like the way we are shaping up going forward, but defence is really ropey. So I think the opposite applies to Lam than it did with Waney, namely he needs a defence coach.
For me I would ask Waney to come back as Lammy's assistant concentrating solely on defence and helping with winding the boys up on match days.
Whether Waney's pride would allow it is another matter.

Defense for 35 mins at Wakefield was not an issue they tackled like trojans albeit for a five minute spell before half time when they imploded lets face it the forwards that what was on the field were made up of young lads .Wakefields forwards were massive compared to Wigans and with an inexperienced pack something had to give same at Castleford the week before only for the injuries we could have won they changed their game plan to batter us in the forwards .

Utter rubbish! An unmitigated disaster after 10 weeks? 10 weeks where he hasn’t been able to put the same 17 on the park 2 weeks running when he’s trying to bed in a new style of play? If you can’t see massive improvement in our attack the last few weeks I’m not sure what you’re watching.
We’ve lost because we’ve had no experienced pack. The young lads have done well individually but there’s just too many in at once. Once we get a few bodies back, we’ll be very hard to beat.