Quote: Dr Chim Richalds "
I do for the time being. I agree with V4E on the other board that there hasn't been enough time yet to evaluate how he is performing in this DOR rule. I've been a strong advocate for there being three distinct roles at our club in terms of a coach, a DOR type role (to deal with the administrative side) and someone in charge of player welfare. What's more important is that there is a proper link between the playing staff department and the club board.
Whilst people knock PC's visits to Australia I believe that he has a good number of contacts over in Australia following a number of introductions made by Andrew Johns and I have heard that Andrew Johns made two stops in the UK recently (a few months back now). One to Warrington about a major signing for next year and another one to Widnes to talk through some potential targets for 2013. I genuinely think all this talk of other head coaches being put off by PC being DOR is rubbish having heard legitimate reasons for some of the contenders having turned us down last April. I think the situation would be very different if Noble had been appointed for example and Noble would report directly into the board rather than into PC. The current setup is very much there as a result of us having DB as coach.
I am looking to give PC until at least the start of next season before I make any sort of judgement call.
We have been incredibly unfortunate this season but the finger of blame points at our coach for the time being.'"
I have written the same over on the TIW board but the problem with Cull is that you cant evaluate his impact in the director of rugby role.
I do think its almost like an invisible role in that blame seems to get shifted everywhere apart from at him. None of us know what the hell it is he even does or how far his infleunce extends on to first team matters though and that is the problem and why he gets so much stick.
Ultimately people dont understand the role and they look at the role in action at Salford and particularly in football where it doesnt seem to be the greatest of successes.
He might be doing an absolutely immense job behind the scenes but the club dont communicate that or anything to the fans about what his role actually entails. You cant blame anyone for giving him stick because people dont know any better and they just lump him together with Betts as a contributor to our failure.
Im yet to be convinced about the need for the role in any sport and with those in power at the top of our club devoid of any previous experience in the running of a sports club it worries me to what extent Cull has power over rugby decisions that are made.
