Geoff Toovey finally has his visa and is now officially our head coach.

And will it change anything this year

Doubtful.

Surely you lot must be sick of these types of "rallying calls" by now?! www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... to_safety/ You've turned up when asked, backed the club all season yet the T&A still feel the need to say you need to do more?! If you ask me it's the bloody Club itself that needs to do more ...and fast!

Surely you lot must be sick of these types of "rallying calls" by now?! www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... to_safety/ You've turned up when asked, backed the club all season yet the T&A still feel the need to say you need to do more?! If you ask me it's the bloody Club itself that needs to do more ...and fast!

Not sure what else you expect them to say TBH

Actions speak louder than works - and to be fair to the club they haven't really issued any real rallying cry this season thus far probably because they know they haven’t been in any position to do so. This isn’t on a par with some of the patronising guff Ferres was coming out with in the previous two campaigns, but it still won’t convince me to go to any more than the handful of matches I have already been to. That article talks about tipping points, well I do hope they’ve realised that a startling percentage of the hard core have reached a tipping point with the club and the club needs to reach out to the fans with more than simple platitudes.

That said, Toovey should be a step in the right direction. At this stage in the season, he can’t save us – nor can anyone who has, is or will ever coach in Rugby League. So why has he stayed – logic says if he’s just going to go back down under after relegation then why bother sticking around for this? That tells me perhaps he may stay in League 1 and build a squad then that’s something. Logic, however, has been in short supply at Odsal for well over a decade so I won’t hold my breath.

Quote ="RhinoLaney"Surely you lot must be sick of these types of "rallying calls" by now?! www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... to_safety/ You've turned up when asked, backed the club all season yet the T&A still feel the need to say you need to do more?! If you ask me it's the bloody Club itself that needs to do more ...and fast!'" Support them for the home games. You know, when you spend money at the club. They're not that bothered about the away games apparently, but yes it's all about supporting the team and not at all about getting some more money in. All about the money. Much like the last owner. And anyone who thinks it makes a difference that Toovey has got a visa as to the team "now being coached by him" is very VERY naive.

Quote ="RhinoLaney"Surely you lot must be sick of these types of "rallying calls" by now?! www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... to_safety/ You've turned up when asked, backed the club all season yet the T&A still feel the need to say you need to do more?! If you ask me it's the bloody Club itself that needs to do more ...and fast!'" Support them for the home games. You know, when you spend money at the club. They're not that bothered about the away games apparently, but yes it's all about supporting the team and not at all about getting some more money in. All about the money. Much like the last owner. And anyone who thinks it makes a difference that Toovey has got a visa as to the team "now being coached by him" is very VERY naive.

Hard to know what to feel about this, to be honest

Obviously, he has been coaching the team all season anyway - not that it appears to have done much good. I didn't actually think he would ever get a visa, and would quietly leave at the end of the season. So I'm actually a bit surprised by this announcement.

Perhaps it will somehow give the team a boost and they'll start playing like world-beaters? Seems doubtful, but I guess we'll see on Sunday...

The only real positive about it currently is that one of the things that's making our club look like a joke has finally been resolved.

It doesn't affect the coaching in the slightest.

Another positive that MAY come out of it is that if we can now get Visas as a club, perhaps any players waiting in the wings who were not announced because of visa issues, may now be able to come in. I won't hold my breath though.

Going from the other thread (while we wait for the minutes of the meeting haha) i'm sure if he wasn't going to be here next season they wouldn't have kept pursuing the Visa. Toovey could have walked away without officially being in charge this season. For me this is a massive point in the direction that we will be around next season. Why on god's green earth would Toovey, who knows we are 98% relegated be happy taking a club on in CH1 without the promise of being backed to get straight back up

He is on RHPs show tonight: [urlhttps://twitter.com/Pulse1Radio/status/874863043813023744[/url

It'll be interesting he hear what he has to say.

The downside being that you'd have to listen to RHP's show...

Because it was the best offer he'd had, perhaps?

I risk repeating myself, I know. Geoff isn't a super dooper coach from Aus, he's a former super dooper player who took over his former team and led a top quality side to the Premiership. He then led the team through a period of decline before losing his job. He's here, I guess, because it was the best offer on the table. Hell, would Wayne Bennett have hung around half a season waiting for his new club to be in the position of sponsoring him for a visa? I really am baffled by the number of fans who seem to think he's some kind of superstar coaching guru.

Geoff may well turn out to be the answer to all our prayers, let's hope so, but there's little on his CV which suggests he's going to build a side from scratch and get us back into SL.

Well, I'm surprised we've actually now had GT confirmed as our first team coach! I honestly thought he would have departed Bradford for the South of France when the Dragons and Frayssinous parted company. It's great news for the club and this "Geoff's VISA is being sorted, should be another couple of weeks" business can finally be put to bed.

Best of luck Geoff!

Oh dont get me wrong I dont think he is a genius coach and ultimately his shall we say old school ways of shouting and balling probably dont do any favours when the players heads drop. He was supposedly earning a good living as a chartered accountant before coming over. I would personally rather have Smith in charge. I just feel for someone to drop everything come halfway round the world he must have some promise of some kind to hang about the length of time he had.

Also if rumours turn out to be true and we stay full time next season regardless of division, theoretically we will offer players probably too good for CH2 better than they will get elsewhere but be too good for that level to get us up and we still wont see how good a coach he will be

It's interesting that you've heard rumours about staying full time if/when we're relegated. There are dozens of rumours flying around (something has to fill the information vacuum, I guess) but I confess I've not heard that specific one, other than with the whole 'Koucash is taking over' saga. Given the shortage of money which appears to be available this year and the expected drop off in spectator interest that relegation would cause, like many I fully expected going part time next year if we keep the same owners.

The scenario of a full time side playing in champ 1 does sound intriguing, in many ways a bit like our ex-SL players in the first season in the Championship. I think you're correct and it would be a great test for a the coach. For what it's worth, I don't think it would be an easy ride, by any means.

We could have Wayne Bennett in charge but with the squad as it is I doubt he'd do much better than Toovey. We are lacking a a group of tough experience players in the forwards and a halfback. He's got his visa now but let's be honest it won't make much difference. That wasn't a cardboard cut out Toovey that was supervising the warm ups in games up until now.

I agree with pretty much what everyone is saying regarding that Toovey's VISA won't make a difference really considering that he has probably coached all year anyway.

What I do take from this however is that this Bradford Bulls company can now get VISA's so hopefully this will mean a couple of reinforcements before the Championship Shield (doubtful though). Imagine if Pheonix could have held off a little longer! Could have had an extra player/half leading up to the business end of the season and with Keyes and Chisholm out could have proved worthwhile!

Another thing I am taking from this is that if Toovey has just got it and is still here then it looks like he will be here next season too. If this is true then coupled with the fact we can now get VISA's I would expect a couple of overseas signings in the off season.

Toronto have been full time in Ch1. Admittedly full time and spending a lot of the cap as well.

I expect we'll be partly full time...if we're still going.

Well GLedhills been tweeting about at least one new player before this weekends game. Doesnt say whether thats just a loanee though.

Toovey stating there is "Lots going on behind the scenes right now" during his Pulse Radio interview. Wonder if we're about to bring anybody in now that the Visa issues are sorted?

I'm only going off other rumours not claiming to be in the know or anything. All im saying there must be a reason for Toovey to hang around until this late in the season without his visa. I could be completely wrong and more than likely am. Totally agree on the lack of money and how it is. I'm as sceptical as everyone else just maybe hoping there is some reasoning behind it.

If it did end up the case like you say could have the same scenario as we had with lack of motivation in players. But Toronto are making a good fist of keeping motivated although Rowley must put something in the water to have his players foaming at the mouth

Players foaming at the mouth....he hasn't got the Barlows back has he!

Just looking for the simple explanation...