That's actually how I read it at first!

could be some sense in sharp.didnt macca start as a coach under sharp?. so macca may have reccomended him. plus sharp is, I think ,currently out of work (or is he stilll director of rugby at hull?) so available to start immediately. At best though this could only be seen as a like for like replacement and not an improvement. suppose it could just be a caretaker appointment till end of season and I suppose its a slight improvement on mcdermott.

Jon Sharps Nobles assistant in Wales.

For some reason we, super league, don't give our young coaches the right education or patience. We rush them in fairly young and demand instant sucess.

From the rumours in Sydney mcmanara will be smiths assistant next year, he'll also bring a couple of sl players, and he'll further his education.

Why would any young coach want the England job? It's full time, what a joke, and a up hill battle because of the strengh of Australia.

I'd like to see a time served coach motivate the side backed up by a top super league coach (maguire or brown).

Sharpe has to be RL's most boring man.

[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/10/04/12/RUGBYL_England.html[/url

[urlhttp://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_6089425,00.html[/url

Sorry if its posted eslewhere but I have not seen it;

"[iThe Rugby Football League are edging closer to appointing a successor for Tony Smith, and could reportedly enlist the help of his older brother.

After stepping down as England head coach last year, Smith is likely to be succeeded in the role by Bradford boss Steve McNamara, who has emerged from an all-British shortlist of four as favourite for the full-time job.

And he is expected to have as a mentor Brian Smith, the 56-year-old Australian brother of Tony who helmed Hull and Bradford in the early days of Super League and is now head coach of Sydney Roosters.

It is likely an announcement will be made in the next 10 days, although the RFL have refused to comment on the speculation. [/i"


Not for sure but it does seem like just a matter of timing the announcement and working out the details with his current employer, us.

Some people might be about to see what happens when you get what you wish for...

I'm very aware the RFL are wanting a full-time coach, but does Macca need to take the job up on a full-time basis right now? With just one friendly IIRC before the end of the season, you'd hope he could continue doing what he's doing here until October (hopefully by bowing out with a GF win), thus also giving the board maximum time to find the right man to succeed him.

I honestly hope it isn't true though, be a shame when the seeds are just starting to bear fruit under Macca's reign now, that he would walk out to take on a job with England.

Not really too bothered where Macca goes, if he goes. The main concern I have is the Bulls getting the right coach for 2011.

I don't see Sharpe as that man. We need fresh ideas from down under methinks. Surely there's another Michael McGuire type we can attract?

After all the flak he has had from so many fans, calling for his head, who could blame him? I'm sure though that none of those who have called for his head would not now berate him, should he indeed do what they have been asking him to do for so long?

Wider RL public are going to hate this appointment, presuming it happens. SM's stock is a lot lower amongst the disinterested than it is on here.

Sharpe REALLY started to get on my wick when Huddersfield were losing week after week and he came out with the same nonsense "Yeah I'm really pleased with the lads, we're not far off" like he was some sort of bald Zombie.

If I wanted to watch a bald Zombie muttering to himself I'd look in the mirror when I'm up at 2am with the baby.

todays t&a.

[urlhttp://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/8094377.Bulls_resist_dual_McNamara_role/[/url

nothing new really. sounds like weve been caught on hop a bit tbh.

Do members of this board count as RL?

i don't get an overwhelming feeling that he wants to stay somehow? he mentions he's pleased to be here but if he really wanted to stay, those are the comments he'd be making regardless of who was offering contracts in the background?

whatever's happening it needs to be decided soon before it disrupts the squad.

From Sky "Bradford chairman Peter Hood says the club's directors still intend to hold talks on McNamara's future at the end of this month, despite the rumours."

"I've read the speculation and that's all it is," he said, "Why would we want to lose arguably the best young British coach in the game?"

Why keep a coach who team has not performed in the past 3 years!!

It goes with the territory I'm afraid & he's in the wrong game if he can't handle it. TBH, given your continued decline over the last 4 years the flak on here was less than I would have expected, I can't comment on any hassle he got at games as I have never been one to hang around the tunnel after the final whistle. It just shows all he has really been missing is a class scrum half. Funny that.

When the history books come to be written, I think many people may gain a better understanding of why "...It’s been an extremely difficult period of time – some of which is common knowledge, some of which isn’t", and especially about what isn't. That might shed a very different light on his tenure, and the constraints he has had to operate under. As would and will any future coach.

If the papers and press are to be believed then he's on his way (probably at the end of the season).

Can you blame him?

We as a club have waited until the last year of his contract before looking at negotiating a new one - whether that be his or the boards decision isn't 100% clear.

As Adeybull points out - there are certain constraints on the club which may never be revealed, and the lack of success (and or progress) on the pitch since Macca took over would not have helped his bargaining position.

So, (assuming that we make the eight - position 6-8 and make little impact in the play-offs, go a couple of rounds in the cup but out before it gets really serious) at the end of this season, would the fans be happy with Macca staying?

Many wouldn't be and the board may decide enough is enough and he's on his way. However, at this point he can probably safeguard his family's future for the next few years by taking the England job - which, when you look at it is the pinnacle of a coach's career.

Ask Brian Clough - he'd have loved the England football managers job. Macca has got his own aims, one of which appears to work in Australia and the England job may well be a stepping stone in allowing him to do so.

Do I want him to go? I'm 60/40 in favour of him staying, especailly given the encouraging start to the season and the way the squad does appear to have a lot more going for it than in the last few years, more so given the young lads making regular appearances such as Whitehead and Donaldson which will provide a firm base for the first team for the next (hopefully) 5 years or so.

Many of these young kids are being groomed by the club the right way now (which wasn't the case under Nobby) so that the aim is to get to the first team and these lads know they will get an opportunity if they are good enough.

Macca has done a lot of work that the one-eyed fans don't see - ie those who simply see success at the club as winning super league every year. We now have a structure in place where we have a strong set of kids, who will hopefully provide the backbone of the team in the next 5 years - the Burgess boys, Southernwood etc. Macca has been influential in getting these kids at our club - he may not be the one that sees the benefit of them, but let's look back in 5 years to see how well Macca actually did for our club, if he does in fact leave for the top job.

The OSV has probably been one of the main reasons Peter Hood has not pressed ahead with looking to renew Macca's contract, that must have been and still is a big distraction and in some ways more important!

BB is being parsimonious with with his 60/40 for Macca staying given that he has shown a good understanding of the Clubs problems since 2006

The usual if this happens this season or doesn't happen is disengenuous to whether Macca stays or goes! If he left it would most certainly put the Club's chances of success back a least 2-3 years!

This is not Maccas we must win something this season (it would be nice) its Macca showing that he is building a Squad that will win Cups in the future and sustainably!

Depends if they're getting a jibe in about Paul Deacon everytime they post

Why's that? 3 of the top 4 teams in SL have coaches who turned around their team's fortunes immediately. If Bulls appointed James Lowes then maybe.

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Has to be the best first post I have ever seen