That does seem to be cause for concern. I'd like to think that we're seeking out the very best person available for every position we need to fill. It would be a massive coincidence (too massive?) if all of the best people available just happened to have the same agent. Wouldn't it?

Especially when they include an unqualified conditioner with no experience, his wife as physio and the assistant coach from one of the few teams who actually appeared to be worse than us for most of last season

It's bothering me. Has Bomber been given too much control? Is AP scrutinising each of these appointments or is he allowing Bomber/Howes to suit themselves?

First rumblings of not being completely happy with the new regime are emerging perhaps?

It's the conditioner appointment that worries me most. It's such an important area that we simply can't afford to get it wrong. The asst coach will largely do what they're told by Gentle anyway, so that's not as big a concern. But conditioning is a different matter, and I don't think it's an area we should be gambling on someone who isn't proven at the top level. The new guy might turn out to be brilliant, of course, but it's a bloody risky strategy, if you ask me.

I'm beginning to wonder if the Howes connection is something that FC are encouraging,

maybe Howes is our preferred Agent?

maybe Howes is part of how AP funded the purchase!

(he was working with him and Barmby when they first bid a few years ago, and he was also involved in the MKM bid as far as I know)

and where is the evidence the conditioner is unqualified? (not directed at you OmneFC)

On linkedin the new conditioner looked like he had plenty of relevant experience and qualifications to me,

Maybe we need some current thinking and up to date practices in that area of the club - something we have been lacking?

I agree, and I'm certainly not going to sit on the sidelines bagging the buy before we've even seen any evidence of his ability.

Amazing how some people think Gentle is the messiah and yet the new conditioner isn't good enough because he hasn't got SL experience.

talk about double standards

Gentle has worked with success (albeit as an assistant) in a much higher level of the game than SL.

Devlin has worked without success in lower levels of our game and in the other code.

How is it double standards to expect more from Gentle than Devlin in their respective roles?

Neither am I. In fact, I have already stated that he 'might be brilliant'. But we have no way of knowing that because he has yet to prove it at the top level. We've gone down the road of appointing an unproven person to a key role in the not too distant past, and look how that worked out. I'm talking about your beloved 'Fubar', by the way.



People think Gentle is the Messiah? Wow. I hadn't noticed. Perhaps you can quote some posts where he has been hailed as such? Gentle might not have SL experience, but he does have NRL and international experience, albeit as an assistant. That's more than our new conditioner has, by some distance.

So, who should we have brought in as conditioner, who is available to start within weeks (if not days)?

and as for the Gentle bit, you know full well there have been plenty getting a bit over-excited by his appointment.

How do you know he has had no success in the lower levels?

Sorry if I'm mistaken, what has he achieved?

what can a conditioner achieve?