Sad it came to this. Hope RM finds another club quickly.

You have to start by saying a big thank you to Richard Marshall.
The Club has some solid foundations and has uncovered some great young talent and nurtured them into fine players with bags of potential.
Well done Richard



On the negative side, his inability to solve the halves has perhaps been his his undoing. These spots should have been handed to. Ben White and JWH from the start of the season, at least.. we persisted with Muzza, being the pivot for the side for too long, his legs are gone, and while his influence and leadership are unquestionable, his ability to break a line or finish are limited to a point where the side hit its ceiling years ago.

Also, while the squad is fairly strong, the pack seems to have got weaker for the past few years, you need grunt and horse power at our level, size matters. I can reel off a list of big uns weve lost.

I sensed talking to him at the back end of last season, his enthusiasm was decreasing, it was almost ‘one more year and i am off,’ i think even he knew he couldn’t get to the next level with us and his style.

Sadly it maybe is for the best, and someone more ruthless can salvage something, or regalvanise us. His loyalty and faith in Muzza and Johnno was his Achilles heal, we had the same short falls every year. I wish he had been braver.

It’s certainly not a good day for Fax, or Richard, and we are definitely not better off, its a sad day, but there is now opportunity for someone to get us going, with some decent players at their disposal.

Good post, agree with a lot of this.

Mixed feelings on his departure. Think after 4.5 years anywhere a change of the guard isn't a bad thing. I think things were on a downward spiral, despite his best efforts, and think a fresh start is the right thing for both sides. But think whoever comes in has got some big shoes to fill, and some of the players need to take some responsibility for his departure.

Odd timing mind you, something ain't right behind the scenes.

Marshall won't be out for a job for long, think he'll do a great job as a #2 at an SL club.

Yes, clearly something has brought things to a head. But i will look back on the years with positive thoughts on the whole. I wouldn’t have been easy to be ruthless when most of the lads were part time and giving their all, but i cant help but think we have stagnated for half of the time.
Again, thanks RM, he can be proud of his work on the foundations, he just wasn't able to take it forward, and that wasn’t all his fault. I’m sure he will have learned plenty.

I don't understand the decision.
From the outside looking in you could always bank on Halifax having a patchy league campaign but finishing the strongest out of everyone.

I didn't see this year being any different.

Let's hope you're still correct. Fan's are split over Marshall, time will tell. I personally think that we were going backwards and it was time for s change. We have only had two good 80 minute performances this year, Dewsbury and London, otherwise we have pretty much been awful. You pays your money....

Just wondering how many coaches you've had since we last changed ours in 1999.

From memory.... Pendlebury, Mercer, Linnane, Anderson, Farrel, Hall, Calland, Harrison, Marshall. You could very well argue that Sheffield have progressed no more than we have, irrelevant of coaching stability.

No doubt you've paid those folk a substantial sum for not working over the period.

That he's CEO of the Club no doubts helps. You've had your lows over the last couple of years too.

Most of us didn’t see this coming to the extent that it has and from the outside there’s no chance of seeing it, you have to be here.
From the inside watching week to week there has been a noticeable difference.
Very little has worked out well for a number of reasons.
Pre season build up average at best.
Recruitment average.
Attack average.
Defence less than average.
Performances average.
Mounting injury list.
DR with Cas less than average.
Odds on things changing less than average.

Not all down to RM but with his contract up at the end of the season not to be renewed it just may be the case and in the best interests of both parties for the departure to come sooner rather than later.

So reading between the lines the players have done a “Man Utd” and given up to get the coach out?

Naughty.

Griff, I’m sorry but you don’t have a coach (like us), you only have a taxi don’t you?

No “remove the coach” conspiracy simply they have been poor and as usual when it gets to the point where the BOD decides someone has to go it’s always the coach and never the players.

Mark Aston isn't CEO of the club.



But having had our lows is partly the point I'm making.

Can't add anything different to what has been posted previous. Chris_Smith maybe you were right about some things and I offer an olive branch to you.

As for R M does anybody think he will be be departing for an overseas foray, as strong rumors about New York and Ottawa joining the G B leagues?
R M maybe his potential is as a back room organiser, it is to his credit, and the BoD they have developed the reserves and academy, it would have been all too easy to do like others and rely on D/R, and lower leagues development for players, spending the money instead on first team wages and gambling on success there.
Good luck in the future R M unless you coach a team that faces Fax.

off thread where is Harry Kidd?

Kidd injured his Knee in Toulouse

@ Bentleyman Thank you, he has spent more time sick than fit.

I know its harsh because he did have a really bad injury but its just another example of Marshall's poor recruitment.

Listen pal, I never post anything that I believe to be untrue.... Whether individuals believe me or not is entirely there shout... I hold no grudges whatsoever, so no olive branch needed. I don't like it when people get personal though, no need. A few said it before, we're all Fax fans so want the same thing....

In terms of RMs departure it was inevitable, he was taking us backwards and I see things a little differently to what others have put in this thread but that's my opinion. The timing is a little odd, it should've been done Mon or Tues or even after the Bradford game...

Allegedly the reason is the BOD want to take the club in a different direction.... What direction is that I'd like to know because unless things get back on track quickly next season financially is an issue as were facing a black hole unless someone sticks substantial cash in.... Which I dont think is an option currently with the people involved.

Is the different direction less competitive? More of a Dewsbury/Batley type club?? Think communication needs to be stepped up considerably and the club needs a raft of changes across the board and to start engaging with it's most important asset.... The fans

Whoever is the next coach of Halifax RLFC, god help them. Even if it is Steve Price or Justin Holbrook (wishful thinking) the "fans" on here will still moan and groan every time we lose, they don't deserve a RL club in Halifax, but then again they probably won't be bothered. This BB has become increasingly more unreadable, and is a no go post match.

I think the last Halifax coach not to have his head pecked was Maurice Bamford (yes, even the great Chris Anderson had his critics). Change the coach? Change the "fans" more like (myself excepted of course).

Regards
Fuzzy

The problem we have though is that there isn’t a queue of people waiting to join our board, get rid of the current ones and we might as well rent the boardroom out as it will be empty.

I’m sure a lot would love to join up but the time and commitment needed is beyond a lot of people who work for others as opposed to those who are self-employed.

I don't think the defeat in Toulouse was the problem, just the manner of the defeat. It was almost as though the players didn't want to play for him which i'm sure isn't true.

Fuzzy, where have you been lately? If you don't like what you're reading fuzz off! Up The Fax! King's Head shuddersfield Conwy Beachcomber 4.2% Mmm!