I think Noble, like many of the students of Brian Smith (which include mick potter and daniel anderson), are limited coaches in that they do concentrate on a quick play the ball without much of a plan B.

However, he's one of those coaches that I think is great at getting you away from the foot of the table. He may not be the man to put the final pieces in a clubs jigsaw to win trophies (see the difference in Wigan when he was replaced by McGuire), but in terms of getting your club moving in the right direction, he (at least before his sabatical from the sport) is a decent choice.

Does anyone actually know what the 'business trip' the good doctor is reportedly on in Dubai, is all about?

Seems an odd time to be off talking horses or training courses when you reckon you are ready to announce the new coaching set up of the "soon-to-be-country's-richest-club".

Does anyone else find it coincidental that Dubai is regularly used as a half-way stop-off for people travelling from Australia to the UK? I trust our vigilant friends at the passport authorities will search his belongings thoroughly on his return into the country, particularly the over-sized cake that could easily accomodate within it someone of, say, Brian Smith's stature...

At the moment, most of the racing attention in this country is focused on jump racing; the good Doctor prefers flat racing so is probably looking after his source of income where this type of racing is more important.

I keep pinching myself that, after the heady days of McRae and Parrish, and remembering the days when Christmas was promising gloom and doom, we can argue over which top coach we can choose.
We're talking less than 15 weeks.

Newspaper talk Down Under -[i THERE are whispers Brian Smith has failed in his bid to coach again at Salford. We've heard former national coach Brian Noble is now favoured to get the job.[/i
[url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/dogs-put-rivals-in-box-seat/story-e6frexnr-1226612840784Right At The Bottom[/url

more cloak & dagger !!!!!!!!!!! so boared of it all now

In all fairness it's a massive decision, probably Koukash most important one he'll ever make as Salford chairman as it will ultimately shape our next 3 years. You can't blame him for taking his time, particularly with Hunte and Long performing so well and this season being considered amongst most as a write off.

There's no doubt we'll know in the next week or so, as they're probably targeting the home game v Hull FC as the new coaches first game.

I'll be annoyed if its Noble after all this though as he could have been appointed last week.

Id be very surprised if he hasnt met smith in dubai just to double check he has made the right decision

Perhaps Doctor Koukash should sleep on it for another month before putting us out of our misery.





Why not make the recruitment process like an American presidential campaign, with months of canvassing around the wards of Salford and a live 'head to head' debate between the candidates? It could be shown live on Sky Sports .

Think it's pretty much nailed on to be Noble, what I do think has been going on behind the scenes is more recruiting to allow the Doc to announce his new head coach and additions to the playing staff at the same time.

I thought the piece in the Manchester Evening Comic having a pop at the Doc for not making an appointment was dire reporting as surely getting this right is the most important bit of recruitment for many years. Maybe NB is worried that a new more professionally run Salford will highlight some of his (OK all of them) less professional attributes as a journalist.

He's gone to U.A.E. to check under his mattress the cash is still there


Koukash isn't scared of making decisions , there's been plenty of decisive changes visible around the club . pretty much all of them good.
[url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12207/8580336/Salford-owner-Marwan-Koukash-wants-Brian-Noble-as-his-next-head-coachI think the decision was made weeks ago[/url, and the announcement has been delayed until the arrival of Koukash and his fellow directors so they can have a proper PR day .
' The Circus doesn't come to town without the ringmaster '

There will have to have been ' due diligence ' re chances in Backroom staff ( Hunte- Long ) to make sure they're appraised of the new set up and on board, and time for other backroom appointment/s to be targeted , maybe they've even checked there isn't a copy of Mein Kampf in amongst the Wayne Bennett & Jack Gibson Biographies on the incoming coach's bookshelf.
There's also been some springcleaning going on on the playing roster , and probably more to come . As rightfully mentioned these will have been Ok'd by Hunte as Interim Coach and accepted by the new guy , possibly initiated.
the Dr said he wanted to sit down with the intended new coach and identify potential signings as part of the interview process.
Any time I get annoyed by the Dr 's way of operating , I remember how I felt back at St Thomas's back in December... he can take as long as he likes.

Dead right.
The alternative of part Peel ownership ,if anyone would have taken it on at all,gave me nightmares.
It WILL be a lively ride

I'd put money on an announcement early next week. Gives the Club a working week to hype-up the home game against Hull. With Hunte & Long doing such a good job of holding the fort I'm not overly worried about how long the decision is in coming.

You certainly can't accuse the Doc of rushing his decision. I never thought I'd see the day when a new pope was appointed quicker than a Salford coach.

Definitely Noble, with David lyon as his assistant

Tell you what, why doesn't the club just live stream every contract negotiation to keep the masses happy?

Jokes aside, what's important is we get the right man for Salford's new situation. Whoever is eventually appointed it will be the wrong person in some supporters eyes.

At some point or another everyone I can think of as a Salford fan has bemoaned our lack of go forward from the pack, this has been going on so long it is tiresome. Yet in true Salford fans style, have a guess what.... The moaning has started about a coach (not even confirmed yet) who likes to play with a big pack. You just couldn't write the script.........could you?

I think It could be an ideal partnership if they can sort the differences - I'm not too sure how bigger gulf between Sean and Brian there is, but imagine a big pack defensively with Longys stamp on them offensively?

Can we get a bid slung in for Dobson at Hull Kingston while we are at it? Worrying financial noises coming out of East Hull (owners no longer prepared to bank roll them) and Noble has worked with him previously at Wigan.

we're bitching over a new coach and the people of East hull wake up to: www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... z2PS36THII

we're bitching over a new coach and the people of East hull wake up to: www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... z2PS36THII

So all we need are three props like Kevin Ward with Andy Gregory’s hands. Not much to ask!

Interesting,perhaps,that he chose not to return to Wigan in 2008 but went to a young coach,Justin Morgan,at KR.

Chico, we have on many occasions had three props with one set of hands between them, unfortunately not as good as Andy's. But seriously the right quality of big prop is essential, size alone guarantees nothing.

I've no idea why he went to Hull KR and you appear to be just speculating. I do find it odd that you were, and seemingly still are, positively suicidal about the sacking of Phil Veivers (a man who has essentially achieved nothing as a coach) and are now running some strange constant sniping campaign against a man who has won the bloody lot. In between, you also wanted Adrian Morley appointing as Head Coach. Crikey me!

Farish was very complimentary on Dobsons performance against us " he nearly beat us on his own ". so who knows. still only 26
He actually signed for Catalans Dragons as a20 yr old & Noble took him to Wigan half way through the 2006 season when he took over from Millward, Canberra Raiders took him back for the 2007 season then released him part way through the 2008 season to play for Hull KR , Other SL clubs who were interested in him ( Hull FC ) couldn't take him as they were quota full, but the Robins de-registered Webster who was out for the season to sign him [urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/hull_kr/7384713.stm[/url .
I would guess it was the contract rather than the quality of Justin Morgans man Management that attracted him back to SL & the Robins.