Have to agree with just about all the sentiments on here. The problem - for me - is the lack of elite experience on the non-playing side of the club. They genuinely believe that they know what it takes to reach the top of the game but they have no idea, because they've never really experienced it. Specifically, I refer to Richard Agar, James rule and Kath Hetherington who have absolutely no experience at any level of any signficance.

Kath has been around the game for years but has only ever been directly associated with the likes of Sheffield, Gateshead, and Bramley before us (all three of which went bust soon after!). Many people talk about her knowledge of the game which cannot be denied but its a parochial out of date knowledge and totally out of touch with the fast changing modern game.

In the modern game, the value of a coach / CEO / chairman is not who they bring in as a marquee signing (anyone can sign a big name if they're prepared to offer contracts that are either longer or more lucrative than anyone else); the true worth of the club's leaders comes in who they can squeeze in under the salary cap. Hungry players desperate to perform or blokes that have lost their way but can be turned around under good coaching. They're the sort that can turn a team around and - arguably - we've not really brought anyone in that fits that description under the current regime. Harsh? maybe, but even the likes of Tansey and Turner who started so well last year seemed to have lost their way completely by the end of the year.

Rumblings from within the camp suggest that one of our aussie marquee signings is less than impressed by the general lack of ambition within the current set up and he won't be taking up his third year option for 2012.

It should be no surprise. Why is agar still in charge? It can only be because it makes life much easier for Kath and Rule. Agar and Webster lack the experience to challenge them and are happy to plod along doing their best but, really, paddling frantically to stay afloat.

Martin Sadler in the League Express reported last week that since SL began, the title had been won five times by someone in their first season as a head coach (such as McGuire) and three times by someone in their first season coaching that club (such as McLennan) so the whole notion of Agar being a 'rookie coach' and 'not having his own team' was just a load of bull - he's got more experience than some of his peers, its just experience of mediocrity and he's just not good enough. Rule and Hetherington have kept him in position; they also appointed Peter Sharp. Once Agar gets the bullet (as I firmly believe he will before mid-season next year) then can we really trust them to make the right decision next time around?

The pendulum is swinging back to the Aussies once again; British coaches are well down the pecking order - overtaken by the new ideas coming from Smith, Brown and McGuire. Look at how many of the England squad come from Wigan, Warrington and Huddersfield. Our determination to stick with an English coach is not even admirable any more - its just stupid

Blimey, so O'Meley's had enough already. Maybe he'll be joining his buddy Mason at Rovers.

Really? How do you know this to be a fact?

it isn't fact, it is opinion, where did I state it was a fact?

What a great post. Sums up the club perfectly.

agar learnt his trade playing under coaches in the 2nd tier of the game and playing 2nd fiddle to 2 failed coaches at Hull. How the hell can we expect any more from him than we get?

Your comments about the type of player we bring in shows how good mcrae was (and still is) in this area. The type of coach we need won't come to Hull and work in the environment we expect the coach to work in. IMO we need an experienced DOR and an up and coming aussie coach to work under him. rule may be good at the business side of things so let him concentrate on that and bring in someone to run the rugby side

Read it again. Where do you indicate anything else? It's a flat statement without any indication of the possibility of the situation being other than as stated.

Well said! In any kind of weather .... unless its cold or the team is losing .... in which case.....

Been a passholder for years and years and Might buy one this year,I say might ,because until I see some semblance of ambition at the club why bother.People say about us missing out on top 4 by 10 mins and finishing 6th,Rubbish !!! we missed out on top 4 and possibly higher by totally inept displays at places such as Wakey,Salford,Wrexham and Murreyfield,also not being able to score points when the position presented itself,
We need new signings,what are we getting,Probably Dowsey for another year [Cheaper}same applies to Radford,Also our front line Halfbacks HOPE they dont get injured again,Missed a few games last season due to Festivals and stuff but didnt miss many away games,think my Pass money could be better invested in my Glasto ticket.
Things will probably change and I will probably end up buying a pass as always,but I must say I have never felt so non plussed about a new season for years !!!!

In 51 met my future husband ,I was a Tigers supporter he a Hull f.c. we went to the Boulrvard one week and Boothferry park the next week but he soon knocked me into shape so it was bye bye soccer, and we are still supporting the mighty Black and Whites yes we have seen some rubbish and some great games but you love the game so much you take the good with the bad just like marrige

Absolutely.

All these histrionics we read every year from the drama queens saying they aren't going any more are boring.

You take the rough with the smooth, that is what sport is about. I bet at Cardiff in 2005 out of the 25,000 Hull supporters there that the people who enjoyed it the most were those who stuck by the club during those dark days in 1999.

Too fecking right. My absolutely favourite piece of wisdom is "The deeper sorrow carves into your soul, the more joy it can contain". Life (and in a smaller way, sport) is entirely about ups and downs and is nothing without contrast. Anyone would think we were on brink of relegation or administration. Part of us continuing going is precisely what you have described, for sure the highs are sweeter for experiencing the lows.

Wow, philosophy on RLFans

Great quote, Mrs B and very true, of course.

followed fc since 78-79 when we went unbeaten,ive never once thought about not following them,ive seen the good times and bad,good coaches and bad coaches,since we have been at the stadium ive had a pass and the same seat and that aint gunna change,id never call people if they choose not to go thats there choice,money is tight these days and if people arent happy then its there call.

My sentiments exactly (apart from the time bit, its about 93-94 for me, when I was 4-5 myself).