: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:28 pm  

tank123 wrote:

I take it that you mean 8 games including matches played in the Southern Hemesphere as well.

Union has a problem coming. Over the last decade most clubs have been proped up by the so called sugar daddies. First of these clubs was the Newcastle Falcons which was ran by the former Newcaastle Fotball club owner. Now its becoming a very expensive game to run and its rumored they can not keep Johny Wilkinson when his contract expires. Bristol is another feeling the crunch. Though teams like Leicster, London Irish do flourish well. Over half the union clubs are now facing a financial problem. The Welsh WRU were forced over 6-7 years ago to go to regional rugby of the clubs would have gone bust.

Almost half the union are clubs are facing a similar dilema in England. A good number of clubs have poor standard stadia compared to what most SL clubs will have and football stadiums in the country.

Re: Eddie Jones there is no chance of him going to another union club in England as that would mean a coach getting sacked for him to get a job in the first place. Apart from Wasps no other side at the bottom of the table would be able to afford his wage demand. Id be surprised if he took the Bristol job given that they are odds on to go down. Newcastle are broke and Worcster has no chance of achieving anything in the next few years. That only leaves Wasps as the only place he could go and that means Ian Mcgechan and Edwards getting sacked, and i cant see that happening.

Eddie Jones is the best union coach over the last decade or so if he does come it will benefit the club in getting it professionally set up. But it cant be at the expense of Nobles authority.

Good post, and a good point regarding the televised games as League runs up 5 games a week if you include Setanta.

I think he may have options in Union world wide, given his reputation, which is why i still doubt it will happen although i agree with you i think it would be a very good addition to the clubs set up.

I think a few coaches are now setting themselves up as "rugby" coahes rather than League or Union coaches, the likes of Edwards, Jones, Hanley, Kelly to name a few, i feel we may well see this become more and more of a trend over the years.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:29 pm  

jonh wrote:

Good post, and a good point regarding the televised games as League runs up 5 games a week if you include Setanta.

I think he may have options in Union world wide, given his reputation, which is why i still doubt it will happen although i agree with you i think it would be a very good addition to the clubs set up.

I think a few coaches are now setting themselves up as "rugby" coahes rather than League or Union coaches, the likes of Edwards, Jones, Hanley, Kelly to name a few, i feel we may well see this become more and more of a trend over the years.

A job in France is a real option given how poor they did in the Heineken cup

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:45 pm  

tank123 wrote:

A job in France is a real option given how poor they did in the Heineken cup

France would be a major lure and financially they would have the clout, although it seems to me they are moving somewhat away from the foreign invasion they have run with in the past few years and the emphasis has changed somewhat to a more French based player and coach set up, or at least the shft seems to be starting and there is a bit of a backlash on the foreigners involved in the game over there, still for a proven coach like Jones i am not sure this would be too much of an issue to any prospective employers in France.

IF it did happen and he did come to Wigan i would expect there to be a bit of a media frenzy about it especially in Union circles/press which would be nice to see.

[Wigan6/Leeds1 Andy]

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:14 pm  

I assume the usual suspects have already contacted the club about this Jones rumour like they did about the playing games at LSV one. I mean what's more important:

1. The coaching set-up with its direct effect on the players and the performance of the team throughout the season.

or

2. Playing two games at Leigh.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:14 pm  

Re the number of games I was referring to Heinken cup weekends. They have regularly shown 1 Thursday, 1 Friday, a choice of 2 via the red button Saturday at 1 pm, then games at 3, 5, 7 pm then 2 live games Sunday. Incl the red button game (though you can't watch both) they show 9 live games. If you want to include Setanta they also show French and Irish league games. We do not compete unfortunately.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:33 pm  

I hope you guys are right, and that this has been conducted above board and that Noble is being consulted. I just worry, because IL has several times announced things or allowed rumours to float that have destabalised players and/or the team (I am thinking of Higham here, etc). To me things are shaping nicely, the last thing we need is a lack of focus by the team again. I am not questioning IL's right to conduct business behind the scenes, but I may be questioning his ability to do this in a non-disruptive manner. Just how it appears to me.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:55 pm  

Tacitus wrote:

I hope you guys are right, and that this has been conducted above board and that Noble is being consulted. I just worry, because IL has several times announced things or allowed rumours to float that have destabalised players and/or the team (I am thinking of Higham here, etc). To me things are shaping nicely, the last thing we need is a lack of focus by the team again. I am not questioning IL's right to conduct business behind the scenes, but I may be questioning his ability to do this in a non-disruptive manner. Just how it appears to me.

As I mentioned before. This story allegedly first broke on Christmas Eve. Yet Noble seemed fine to me at the Fans Forum (more so even than usual), and was gossiping quite happily with IL after our last friendly.

This doesn't necessarily mean he isn't peeved. But for a guy who on a number of occasions has supposedly made enquiries about positions at other clubs, and went public in Australia last autumn about problems he had with the chairman, why would he keep quiet now?

I'm hoping this indicates that any approach made was done after IL and BN discussed it. But of course I don't know that for sure.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:07 pm  

Noble is in a good mood because he has resolved some personal issues

rl : Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:18 pm  

Whether Noble stays or goes when his contract expires Jones could not come in as first team coach. He's no experience in League and would be laughed out of the dressing room.
If he is to be Wigan bound then the "player performance director" succeeding Joe Lydon seems the most obvious job.
Also the PPD title would seem to be a euphemism for "Union Scout".
Really got my doubts about this one but if it takes place then the club will be broadening its scouting beyond Rugby League territory.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:22 pm  

Just to add why do supporters think Noble and Lennagan would not appear comfortable in public?

Both have egos that they like to be stroked. They surround themselves with 'nice friendly people' who will stroke their egos. They both have a very public persona and a private one.