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Seems a strange decision just before the run up to the play offs.

unrest in the camp and been struggling for a while need to freshen things up.

Yes, at any other club with any other chairman that would seem a strange decision.
But at Barrow With Des Johnston nothing surprises.

Second in the league and a final appearance the year after being promoted would suggest to me that Dave Clark deserves a full season to prove himself IMO.

Even though recent results have been VERY poor ? The new coach has 6 weeks to stamp his authority and try and get the team playing good rugby again. Things had gone stale and we had no plan B.

Yes. Every team has form dips, he should be allowed to try coach your team out of that dip after what he has help you acheive in the past year. I knew you would come on and defend it but from a non-biased and to be honest not that bothered point of view it is strange decision.

Im not exactly defending it. It may turn out to be a very bad decision at this late stage but as you will have seen on Sky we have been playing very poorly with no direction of late. I do feel Dave ran out of ideas and tbh I saw this coming. A fresh set of ideas may be just what we need to re-ignite our season. Dave Clarke is still assistant so he must have agreed to the move ? It may turn out to be a bad decision or it may be a master stroke - only time will tell.

yes, totally agree. Clarke has been a fantastic worker and a credit to the club. I am very pleased he still has a coaching roll- keep some consistencey. I think new ideas and new tactics is what barrow need, weather it pays off we shall see.

In all honesty i dont think you are playing any different to how you were playing at the beginning of the season. Bit like Hull City if you ask me, riding along on the crest of the wave. A few defeats and then you get shown up for how good you actually are. In Barrows case i just think that is an average workmanlike team.

It can be a lot more difficult in the second half of the season.
Playing teams for the second time when the element of surprise has gone.

Couldn't all the office and support staff just line up outside the tunnel, just out of sight, and shout [size=200BOO!!! [/sizeas they come onto the field.

That would surprise them. They'd not be expecting it.

Dont talk !!

Meddling chairmen who would love to be coach himself.

Ask Wigan (fans and coaches) how average and workmanlike we are !

We really haven't put in a good 80 mins since we beat Widnes - and that was WEEKS ago. Clarky stepping down hasn't come as a great shock to me either - he had to be talked into taking the job in the first place.

He's done a great job in getting us promoted and to a final, but with the quality of our squad we should be putting in far better performances. I think teams have sussed us out a bit and hopefully a new coach can mix things up a bit. It's great that Clarky is staying on at the club and shows that the decision must have been reasonably amicable.

Don't agree. Des has A LOT to do with where we are today. His contacts, time and money have played a huge part in us gaining promotion and assembling a competitive squad for the Championship.

We have lost 3 of our last 4 league matches and also lost in a final. If our current form continues we could well miss out on a playoff spot.

Hence the change. No meddling - just management.

Wrong time of the season to make a change like this in my mind and shows Des's naivety. Youre still in with a shout at the top of the table. Deakin may be a good coach, but the players dont know his ways and will take time to adjust. By then the season will probably be all over.

Personally I would have stuck with Clark as I for one think he has done a great job. You may think your team are full of superstars, but with one or two exceptions they are average NL1 players working damned hard for each other. That type of team ethic can win things and I think Des has overlooked/ignored this due to impatience. Rome wasnt built in a day and all that

Deakin may be a good coach but had bags of cash at Oldham and failed to deliver them anything at all, with on paper one of the best squads. He died by the samer sword of failure Dave Clarke has.

I have to agree with Justthebasicfax. Johnston comes across as wanting to make team selection. He said as much in interview before the Fax game, saying that the players need to put in performances to earn a place in the semi-final.
That is a perfectly fine statement, but only if made by the coach. He is the only chairman in this league that does so much talking.
What if Deakin fails and they continue to lose form?

Would make a great 'fly on the wall' documentary on SKY. like the footy one at Peterborough with Barry Fry.

gary even you cant put spin on this one, and the reason clark is still at the club is his community role is with the rfl so dessie cant touch him

i could understand all that if say millward or a proven SL coach came in

but deakin??

Like saying ask Cas how average we are. Pointless. Barrow, like Fax, raised their game for a one off match.



Thats because you are an average team playing in a very competitive league.

Oi, Lay off!!!!

He's ours for 3 years!!

Deakin has come in as caretaker for the last 6 games (plus playoffs hopefully).

The proven SL/NRL coach will come for the start of next season

Deaks will baffle em with science!!

he might cut out some of the over vigorous stuff though....suspensions aren't helping Barrow.