An average concession of 30 pts per game this season,speaks volumes.

Hall and Atkin both have plenty to offer, but not to the extent of contributing massively to taking us to the next level (mid-table and average), imo. I’d be happy with either or both staying for 2020, but if we kick-on they’d have to be sidekicks rather than our gun players.

Most other SL teams seem to have an extra gear compared with us, while we rely on revving the poop out of our undersized engine for 80 minutes. It’s been that way since well before Sheens arrived.

Some significant changes are needed from top to bottom, and some are being made in fairness.

Although I think the importance of youth development is generally overstated, it is still important and the arrival of John Bastian sends a strong signal. There’s a rumour we’re getting players to move closer to Hull and I think that could be very helpful too.

Only time will tell if it was a good decision but it is a results game and 5 wins in a season is not good enough, Leeds fired the gun earlier than you but you do have to say another coach fired, it does seem to be a bit of a poison challis.

At times FC fans have been calling for Radfords head and some still do but Pearson has been adamant that he is going no-where maybe it is time for Hudge to do the same, at the end of the day he is the making the appointments. maybe he will take his time and get the right man then back him to the hilt. That must be the way forward.

ps
Just read in the wail (and it is the wail) might have new coach before Sunday, maybe not taking his time.

Whilst I'd never celebrate anyone losing their job I do think it might have been more of a mutual decision. And, as already pointed out, it was something the majority of fans were calling for! TS was probably going through the motions at this point in his coaching career. We need a young, hungry coach with new ideas. However the Morgan rumour seems to be gathering traction. I'm not sure whether you should ever go back, no matter how popular and successful the last reign was. He'll be a popular appointment with the fans, no doubt about that.

Sheens knew last month he wasn't being retained next season. Mischief making by Mr Smailes and co. Nothing out of ordinary here.

But it isn't next season, he has been sacked mid season, I honestly can't see what Snailes has done wrong, he gets some information that Sheens will be sacked, he reports it, Rovers fans start crying about Smailes, a day or two later Sheens is sacked, so he was right all along. Surely it's his job to report on sports related matters, including rumours?

I think it’s the fact he hasn’t reported on the Bowden incident

Mr Smailes only reports what he wants to report. There have been incidents involving Hull FC players where he hasn't reported it even though there was evidence yet he reported at the time an unsubstantiated rumour.

What incident?

If it's outside of the sport, then people need to be careful of what they report without evidence, lots of things happen with rugby players, most don't make the papers.

Like what, the Kelly incident, but was that really news worthy? Did other papers report that story or are we just picking on the HDM?

I've seen plenty of stories about drink driving etc for Hull players.

Also reporting that Westerman and Hadley might sign for other clubs, isn't that the same as Sheens.

It's fairly obvious that the Sheens one was more than a unsubstantiated rumour, Smailes had a very good source, you should be worried about who leaked the story.

Mr K is correct here. Remember please that our libel laws require a claim about the actions of living person that could be considered defamatory to not only be true but demonstrably true.

Some evidence for the decision:

If players are not following his instructions - his fault. This is his team of players now and he should be coaching them to follow his instructions.

Players like Addy starting at 9 - he picked the 17, his fault.

Only use 3 subs most of this season - his tactics

Leakiest defence ever - not directly Sheens but he helped put the coaching staff together so ultimately his fault.

Only playing 40 minutes - his team talks must have some part to play in this

Only winning 5 games this season - injuries yes, but see all the above. We have lost about 4-5 games that we should have won from a winning position.

We will never know if keepings Sheens would have been a better option than who comes in next, but for me the above evidence is enough.

This club expected and deserved more - for whatever reason it didn't work out. Move on. Mr H is simply doing all he can to make us better.

Turn out on Sunday to cheer the lads. Now more than ever they need encouragement. The season is far from over yet!

Smailes' source on Sheens was what Aaron Bower reported. He had no source other than someone else story yet he still reported it. With regards to the Kelly incident, the YP reported on it along with some of the Aus media but Smailes didn't because he said there was nothing to report. To me that sounds a bit hypocritical. He reported on something he couldn't find evidence for but wont on something where the evidence was in the public domain. I've no problem with him not reporting on the Kelly incident but he should apply the same rules to both clubs.

He’s been shown to be right about Sheens, fair enough.

The Kelly thing - entirely separate, but Smailes made a rod for his own back. Whether it was news worthy is subjective, but subjectively i’d say yes. Some papers did report it. Obviously some didn’t, like the North Devon Gazette, but they have an obvious excuse that the HDM doesn’t.

In fairness, it’s a tough and probably not very well paid job and he’s no doubt got to balance a number of issues both pragmatic and of principle. Also, sports/delinquency news in the HDM - there are plenty of bigger issues I have to admit. It was funny though, and his discomfit was one of the first things that came to my childish mind when the video was circulated.