First of all this is purely academic, I'm very happy with the Coaches and the player currently at the club, so please nobody take offence.

As we are playing them tonight in one of their most pivotal matches it might be of interest.

So here goes....When Glover took power and dumped Kear one of those strongly touted to replace him was one Daryl Powell.

If I remember correctly he wasn't a popular choice, though more so than Agar was.

I don't normally do hypertheticals with players and player injuries and who we keep and let go etc etc. Far to many variable, some players fit in certain clubs and who knows how a dropped or injured player would have performed on the day.

Coaches however are not quite the same, I think there record often speaks higher than the players in that a player is often be a one season wonder whilst a great coach has to be more.

Anyway FWIW I don't think Powell would have thrived with us like he has with Cas. Even though we were on the up when Glover took over I'm sure he'd have seen through Glover soon enough. He'd of had a decent U19's to pick from but probably not as good as the one he gained when he joined Cas. Certainly wouldn't of had the money or not for long and any team he'd built would have gone down the toilet as it did when Glover did a runner is my guess.

For me Powell is clearly a good Coach but he was also right club right time imho. I'm not convinced that had we snared him in 2012 he'd have done much better than Agar TBH as the club was soon in a mess. Had we managed to keep him we might be a little further on but would we be where Cas are - that's just my opinion what do those who are interested think?

I personally think Agar got a bit of a raw deal. In his one full season before the excrement started to hit the fan finance wise he got us into the playoffs with a squad that was put together at relatively late notice.

Would Powell have done any better we will never know, sometimes coaches and players click with certain clubs and Powell seems to have clicked with Cas.

It may just be rumour etc but, I understood that Powell didn't want to come to Wakefield.
He would have been an obvious choice, as a very successful Championship coach who, maybe wanted to have a go in SL.
Having had a poor start in coaching at Leeds, probably a big job too soon (Cunningham take note), Powell has been top notch at both Fev and Cas but, to answer Vastmans question, I dont think that Powell was ever Wakefield bound and IF we appointed Agar in front of him, we must have been mad.
Also, at Cas, I dont think it's just down to Powell, Steve Gill I think, has done a great job.
Although, it's also well worth remembering that Cas too, were on the brink and had to sell some of their prize assets (Clark being the most notable)before finding their feet and but for their cup run and all the additional revenue that came with it, who knows just where the might have ended up.

I don't think we ever approached him tbh. Like you say it's all rumour and the one I heard was that it was a done deal with Elston pulling the strings for his mate Agar.

Name me a coach who didn't.

He did very well in his first season as did Chester. However Chester went upwards and Agar went backwards second season. Can't remember the timing money wise or if it affected Agar.

TBH I think the poster above is correct in saying that Steve Gill is probably the most important man at Cas at the moment. Saved us from the brink, "30 minutes from administration" is often banded about.

Orr was leading us up the table before Powell took over, but Gill has allowed the whole coaching staff to move their ethos in turn the club around. Our finances are in check for the first time in years, and when it's going well off the pitch it goes well on the pitch. No more nepotism in the offices. He and Michael Carter get along well and think both clubs are heading in the same direction at the moment. Powell fits with Cas but likewise I think Chester is exactly the man for Wakefield at the moment, and I hope we both make it in the semi's.

Have fun toneet!

It was post 2013 season that the fire sale of players started. Kirmo was only the only big name (that anyone wanted!) to survive the summer I think. Consensus was Agar should have done better in 2013 though thinking back if the problems with money had started by then it would have knocked everyone off kilter.

Ted Richardson told Kear his contract would not be renewed at the end of the 2011 season, that's why Bernard Guash at Catalans tried unsuccessfully to take him mid season with them sacking their coach, alas for JK Richardson wanted too much money for him, sorry my friend but nothing to do with Glover.

Just going back to the op, it still could be us ?
Carter seems to have the off field stuff under control, we have some success on the pitch, players seem to want to play for Trinity (always a big plus) and we have some very talented youngsters coming through.
But for the stadium, we could actually be in a really good position.

interesting thread fellas - i reckon that we're better off without agar who is over-hyped...he did poorly at hull with a good budget and strong squad (not the 1st admittedly) so the finance argument doesn't really wash & wolves are doing great with him as no.2 aren't they!! he's also taken France backwards too...

..whereas chester did well at her, was unlucky to be sacked and has done well for usicon_smile.gif

Funny thing is Agar has a better derby record than Chester. At least for us anyway.

Glover told us (me and 3 mates who won a game in his box) that he interviewed Powell, was impressed, but him (and as you say Elston) preferred Agar. All academic anyway, as you say.

A somewhat different Cas team wouldn't you say?

Sorry my friend but it was, regardless of what Ted didn't do Glover had the chance to keep JK and he didn't. Elston wanted JK out and Agar in.

Sadly I can't prove it but then neither can you so it's just rumour - nobody can claim they are right unless they are one of the protagonists.