I think Agar could be a good choice for precisely the reason Batley Rhino mentions - that the squad isn't ready to mount a full-scale title challenge yet, and we need someone to oversee the transition from a position of stability. Agar will keep the current crop of players happy - this is clear for all to see - and he looks like a safe pair of hands to steer the ship while more contracted players are ushered out. The risk of bringing in a new coach while there are inherited weaknesses in the squad (a la Furner) is fairly high.

This is also about managing expectations. When we signed Harris in 1997, none of us expected to be winning silver ware immediately, but it signalled the team was going places and Bell did manage to steer us into 5th position after the disaster of 1996. This is a similar situation to where we are now. Agar needs to take Leeds into the play-offs, definitely the top-half of the table, and he needs to banish recent memories of flirting with relegation. Let's see how he does. We'll know in another year whether Agar will be suitable with (I hope) lots more dead wood coming off contract and some big signings for 2021. If not, GH and KS can make the call to bring in a more experienced top coach, and Agar can revert to his back room role.

Yes, we're in a transition period but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be going for the best manager possible. Having a quality coach actually involved in the transition and laying the foundations for a squad that will hopefully in time compete would be the best option.

If Agar is our man that really shows how far we've slumped and it's going to be a long time to turn it around.

Funny cos when I said 5 months ago that it was Agar's job to lose I was shot down with people saying Agar had made it clear he didnt wsnt the job.

In truth the club believe hes a good coach, hes a throughly decent bloke and he can work with Sinfield which is very important. Having said all that is he the man to take us back where we need to be? No he probably isn't in my opinion.

And as I've said from the start of all this it's unlikely the fan base will ever accept him should he be appointed. Every loss will see plenty of calls for his head but then it was same under McDermott.

A quality coach coming in from outside would ideally want to be a) happy with most of the players at his disposal, and failing that, b) given the clout to hire and fire players as he wants. I don't see either of these scenarios being possible for next season, on current time-scales.

Perhaps if we'd secured our safety at a much earlier stage in the season (and it still isn't 100% guaranteed), there would have been more scope for an outside candidate to come in. The playing staff would have proved themselves mostly up to it by finishing higher in the table (a), and there would be more time and wiggle room with contracts and the transfer market (b). Bringing someone in now would shackle them even more than Furner's appointment, given the number of panic signings already made to avoid relegation.

What I would be against is giving Agar the job on the same permanent rolling basis as Brian Mac, or anything beyond 2 years. A one year deal, with performance based clauses for an extension would probably suit us best for the time-being.

Nothing convinces me Agar is or will be goid enough but then again if it all goes t!t$ up again maybe Sinfield will be made culpable & we'll ditch the DOR role or employ someone good enough to do it

The DOR role is here to stay. The days when ALL the coaching and recruitment and retention were the responsibility of the head coach are all but over. Rightly so too. The cap is complex and needs to be managed by someone other than the coach.

The cap & recruitment was always managed by our CEO with the HC input on who joins Stays & Goes.
All this DOR is a made up role at Leeds so GH could get Sinfield into a job other than Coaching & just as shown by his recent interview pass the buck when recruitment retention & Coaching set up fails miserably.

It must take it's toll being this cynical all the time.

That’s not at all the purpose of the DoR role. That role is there to ease Sinfield into the CEO role in a few years time.

Sinfield will steadily take over more areas from Hetherington year by year.

We’ve had DoR roles in the past notably with Powell who had nowhere near the responsibilities that Sinfield does.

So ignore the title, it’s simply a way of allowing Sinfield to learn without the full responsibilities thrust on him too quickly.

Is Agar confirmed? I missed it...seen nothing official yet.

Is Agar confirmed? I missed it...seen nothing official yet.

Think I’ll post everything twice...just because

This week it's 2 props, next week 1 then the plans to start next season with no props. Revolutionary.

If we have the same squad with Agar as coach next season we are mid table at very best.

his sub selections have been very odd at times.still he is a nice guy so thays ok

Yeah steady away and that.......

Danny Ward..coach of the year.

If we can't beat Salford at home when there is nothing at stake then Agar isn't the bloke to take this team forward. AGAR OUT!!!!!!

With pretty much a full strength team on the park.

Have been a supporter but some of the stuff tonight was down to coaching,or lack of it ,thanks Richard but back to your previous job!

If you add all the results together since Agar started we are joint 5th with Cas and surprisingly above Warrington.

If Agar is confirmed for 2020, as looks likely, we will need to spend some money and make the right call on his assistant/s. On paper our side at home should be too good for Salford:

Next year... I almost hope we lose the next game too because we need to go into pre-season under no illusions. We can absolutely get more out of this squad but another good signing or two wouldn’t hurt.

Whoever is in charge needs to get whatever recruits in early and then put together a real high quality few months training. No excuses for next year, we’ll have a fully fit squad apart from T Briscoe and lots of competition for places. Just about every single player can improve from this season.

Without a new coach or some major additions I can't see us being much better at all next year. Every club will work hard in the off season not just us.

Agar's prop light approach is ridiculous.

I dont think the club is under any illusions whether we win or lose next week but salary cap restrictions will hinder the spending.

In truth in the last 3 or 4 years weve signed plenty of players and the team hasnt improved. It's time to get the kids through and properly rebuild.

Apparently Agars hand was forced with Cuthbertson pulling out due to injury, I would have had Peteru or singleton in the 19 ahead of Smith though