Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:17 pm  

Seth wrote:

As GH said TS skills and passions lie with coaching the game thats what he will continue to be involved in if he stays in the game.

Time will tell I think like many talented individuals doing the same thing albeit with different people can become tedious and where I think Smith's real passion lies is in driving culture. Anyone who runs a business will tell you changing culture is a real challenge but incredibly satisfying when its achieved.

Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:32 pm  

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:

What qualifications does GH have - in fact what specific experience did Mike Rush have before he took over at Saints - he doesn't seem to have made a bad fist of the role?

The job of the CEO is to develop the strategy of the business with the rugby being the core revenue generator. The club already has senior people in key roles e.g. Rob Oates - how much does Smith need to know about the day to day running of a small hotel and a function business that operates less than once a week - you really this is beyond a clever bloke like Tony Smith?

Where is the succession planning GH is 68 and Caddick 72 - neither can go on forever. Most on here see a need for an increase in energy and improved engagement with the supporters. The club looks tired: Social media is a joke, merchandising as bad, match day is stale and if you hadn't noticed the club is second from bottom of a very average SL.

Smith is well regarded by virtually everyone who come into contact with him - his rugby knowledge/understanding is beyond anyone currently at Leeds and I include GH in that. He would be a great asset to the club - not sure a DOR rugby role would fully challenge him.

Many on here think this is a big business - it is not its a relatively

The problem is you've been saying how badly run everything is for something like 15 years now. Like a broken clock now things aren't going well on the field you're delighting in it.

Hetherington's background was in running every single aspect of a Rugby League club that he'd founded himself. Totally different scale but the background was there - and he brought in people like Shaun Callaghan and later Oates to assist with the day to day. The succession planning was bringing Sinfield in. It turns out he didn't like a desk job. Very unfortunate.

Caddick's succession planning is a different matter as he doesn't run the business day-to-day so who knows what his plans are.

Our opinions of Mike Rush's responsibilities and abilities are perhaps divergent.

Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Thu Apr 21, 2022 3:04 pm  

Good thread this..

Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Fri Apr 22, 2022 9:25 am  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

The problem is you've been saying how badly run everything is for something like 15 years now. Like a broken clock now things aren't going well on the field you're delighting in it.

Hetherington's background was in running every single aspect of a Rugby League club that he'd founded himself. Totally different scale but the background was there - and he brought in people like Shaun Callaghan and later Oates to assist with the day to day. The succession planning was bringing Sinfield in. It turns out he didn't like a desk job. Very unfortunate.

Caddick's succession planning is a different matter as he doesn't run the business day-to-day so who knows what his plans are.

Our opinions of Mike Rush's responsibilities and abilities are perhaps divergent.

No I haven't - what I have said GH was distracted during the stadium re-build quite understandable and then the pandemic. Even you have to admit that things have gone backwards since 2015 and this regression has accelerated in the last 2/3 years. That isn't just the rugby side - social media, ticket office, merchandising it is across the board.

Do you genuinely believe Tony Smith needs to understand every aspect of running a rugby club? Do you think David Potts knows how to run a butchery department at Morrisons? Good managers delegate so they can concentrate on value add. Do you think David Potts could only run a supermarket - really?

GH has been a superb CEO for Leeds but his recent track record isn't great and he is 68 - maybe Sinfield was the succession plan and it could have been that when the reality hit he simply wasn't up to it not that he didn't want a desk job? Dom Crosby comes to mind - Furner if it was him who appointed him but it showed Sinfield's weakness when bowing down to player pressure. Give GH his credit he always stood by the coach through thick and thin.

It seems to me there is too much looking over the club's shoulder at the golden generation - why was Furner appointed? JJB never stops looking over his shoulder. Rohan Smith should be a breath of fresh air provided he is given the freedom the role should command. Maybe it is time to have a fresh approach above him too and if you are going to have a rugby person - because its so important they understand every aspect of a rugby club - then I could think of a better candidate than Tony Smith.

When Smith applied for the job at the Giants they reckon his psycometric testing was off the scale - which would suggest a very rounded capable individual.

Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Fri Apr 22, 2022 9:55 am  

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:

Rohan Smith should be a breath of fresh air provided he is given the freedom the role should command.

There's a lot on people who try and suggest that Hetherington interferes. But none of the head coaches have ever said that. Just listen the extensive Tony Smith interview with Dave Woods this week - he praises the freedom and responsibility Hetherington gave him which clearly he has not had at some of his other clubs.

You're right GH does stick by his coaches - some would say too long but it's probably preferable to someone who is trigger happy. I suspect he wouldn't have chosen Furner if it had been up to him alone but we'll never know.

Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Fri Apr 22, 2022 10:00 am  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

There's a lot on people who try and suggest that Hetherington interferes. But none of the head coaches have ever said that. Just listen the extensive Tony Smith interview with Dave Woods this week - he praises the freedom and responsibility Hetherington gave him which clearly he has not had at some of his other clubs.

You're right GH does stick by his coaches - some would say too long but it's probably preferable to someone who is trigger happy. I suspect he wouldn't have chosen Furner if it had been up to him alone but we'll never know.

GH was happy with Furner and would have given him longer. It was Sinfield who basically have GH an ultimatum, then ended up leaving the club anyway!

Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Fri Apr 22, 2022 2:32 pm  

Is Agar in the plans? He never wanted to be the first team coach and was always positioned as some sort of development/player pathway/DoR kind of guy. A possible successor to Hetherington too??

Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Fri Apr 22, 2022 2:39 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

There's a lot on people who try and suggest that Hetherington interferes. But none of the head coaches have ever said that. Just listen the extensive Tony Smith interview with Dave Woods this week - he praises the freedom and responsibility Hetherington gave him which clearly he has not had at some of his other clubs.

You're right GH does stick by his coaches - some would say too long but it's probably preferable to someone who is trigger happy. I suspect he wouldn't have chosen Furner if it had been up to him alone but we'll never know.

Tony Smith was Leeds coach 2004-2007 thats a long time ago. GH was much younger then. Hes nearly 70 now.

Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Tue Apr 26, 2022 12:10 pm  

Can’t see Tony Smith doing a job he does not want at a club that has just appointed his nephew as head coach. From Rohan’s point of view would you really want the pressure of a very successful Uncle watching over you!

Re: Tony Smith as CEO : Tue Apr 26, 2022 12:42 pm  

If I was Rohan Smith definitely not. The lines between DoR and coach are vaguely defined which can lead to trouble. If you get Gus Gould in as DoR, regardless of job description he'll get involved in the first team. Others might be more hands off. I think that a good head coach who appoints good people into the other key coaching roles and delegates to them would leave virtually nothing for a DoR to do.