he will require a fit to work note, no problem there, he will use the club fitness test

Quote ="Michigan red"I've said it a few times but would suggest that even if SM does come back after his 'illness' we will be looking for a big name coach come the end of the season. Judging what I've seen so far this season in the NRL and from what you read John Cartwright is on borrowed time at the Titans would he be everyones choice? For me that would be a definate YES as I think he would bring the type of rugby we all want to watch (IE what we saw Friday) when we start next season in Barton.'" www.anhourago.co.uk/show.aspx?l=8001504 If Cartwright is on borrowed time how do you explain the above article?

Quote ="Michigan red"I've said it a few times but would suggest that even if SM does come back after his 'illness' we will be looking for a big name coach come the end of the season. Judging what I've seen so far this season in the NRL and from what you read John Cartwright is on borrowed time at the Titans would he be everyones choice? For me that would be a definate YES as I think he would bring the type of rugby we all want to watch (IE what we saw Friday) when we start next season in Barton.'" www.anhourago.co.uk/show.aspx?l=8001504 If Cartwright is on borrowed time how do you explain the above article?

Why is the assumed we need a big name coach.

How many on here had heard of Michael Macguire before he went to Wigan.

We need John Wilkinson to do what Ian Leneghan did and research the market properly and speak to a number of people to draw up a shortlist of hungry up and coming talented assistants such as Macguire.

spot on - but although I have the greatest respect for Mr Wilkinson and all that he has done for Salford (let's face it without his cash we wouldn't be on this forum!!), I do just wonder a bit about his selection criteria for coaches - a rather dismal list so far, with pretty dismal results.

Let's hope he's recognised this himself and is giving full consideration as to how to turn it around - if not we just might end up with another John Harvey

few suggestions:

Milward
Purtil
Noble
Schofiled? (joke)
Hunte?

i wish people would knock the milward/noble idea on the head, we need a younger coach with fresh ideas who would bring a new lease of life to the club. Hunte wont do it because he's got a good little number going with the academy. Purtil is a good shout! Learnt his trade under some great coaches

Shaun Edwards?
on suspension from the WRU following some aftermatch incident
Contract expires Oct

Doubt we could afford the contract, bet he will be on close to £1,000,000 a year with his WRU and Wasps contracts. Would be brilliant though. All I hope for is a coach who allows our talented younger players to express themsleves on the pitch as we did on Friday.

I do however think that the main priority for the club should be signing up Ratchford on a new long term deal, the more you see the more you see that this lad will be the focal point of a Salford team for the next decade and someone who can be a big game winner all on his own.

[iReports in the press this morning are saying the Salford City Reds head-coach is not expected to return to his post as were first thought.

It would appear his sickness has now been determind long-term by his doctors.
[/i

If Simms can keep the team performing for the next few weeks, then it would be madness to unsettle the team again and he should be persuaded to stay in the role of head coach. For next season, we should maybe follow the Wigan plan of finding an extremely cacpable assistant coach, from a team that has been successful over the recent past. I, personally, feel that McRae does know how to coach and does understand the game better than most of us. The problem lies in the fact we signed him after awful stint in the NRL and he clearly lost his confidence, which is reflected in the way Salford has been performing.

Which brings me back to a good assistant form a successful team. Alright not everyone of them is a Micheal MacGuire, but if the right man is out there and has confidence in what he is capable of, i.e. the opposite of McRae, then it would probably be a smarter bet than taking someone like Milward/Noble. Although the excellent job Noble did with the Crusaders last season does strengthen a case to bring him in. Against Noble is, the bizare television interviews he sometimes gives???? Similar to McRae and his post match nonsense.

I agree with JayMc9. We need a young coach with fresh ideas. Noble and Millward are history and not a lot better than what's already at the club.

I know one swallow doesn't make a summer, but after Friday night there doesn't seem the same urgency for a short term replacement. As far as SM goes though, I'm sure that Friday's Team selection and performance would NOT have happened under his control.

We have to hope Stef WANTS to stay with the club, maybe he might want to move on?? he has been doing some work in R.U. he could decide he wants to give it a try on the playing front, we will have to wait & see

Point Taken

after reading todays league express,mr tarry hit the nail on the head for me,more or less saying mr mcrae wont be returning!so do we need a new head coach before next season?

Two blokes who are all but destined to be champion coaches in the future but wouldn't break the bank in getting there. Steve Price and Adrian Lam.

I'd say yes. Surely any player out of contract (particularly a utility type player like Stefan) would want an idea of who the coach and what role that coach would see them playing before committing to a new contract.

Lam it would have to be then, he'd I'm pretty sure take onelook at Ratchfords talent and know that he has someone who the team should be playing around week in week out.

just out of curiosity, what is Mr Clinch, Dunneman and Panapa doing these days? Anyone know?

www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011 ... ugbyleague

www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011 ... ugbyleague

I think we all wouldn't mind that

I've said all along I think we'll end up with a Marque coach at the end of the season and Bennett would more than fit that mark. Can only see him going back to the Broncos or for me Leeds is his more probable English destination.

Think if he were to come to Salford that would be a statement of intention like nothing ever seen at Salford and would make a few teams who rest on their laurels in the big 5 or 6 worry they have serious competition.

Keep coming up with 'Utility' being used to describe Stefan , which sounds a a bit understated throw-away even.Multi talented is a closer match . He's an out and out half back with a good kicking game , but he's good under the high ball and usually beats his first marker = full back , and recently proven he's a pretty useful in the centres too. we've watched him over the years through academy football partnering Jordan Turner at Scrum half to the first team. I see Teams like Wigan sign up their young stars on 4-5 year contracts and it worries me that Salford have left Ratchford playing out his last year. People bring up the pre-season signings & stadium build as statements of intent this will mean sod all if we still cannot keep such talent at the club long term. Is it only Salford that would attempt to manage a franchise deciding season with a vacant head coach ? God help us !
I hope to hell a dialog is going on with the key players about the future coaching plans. I can understand us not being told given the circumstances, just hope they know what's going on.

Firstly I don't think Salford will have left Ratchford playing out his last year of contract by choice. The club can't hold a gun to his head and force the player to sign a new contract. (Well they could but it would be illegal)

Neither are the club going to make it public if he's turned down an offer or delayed making a decision.

Secondly it isn't the clubs fault Mr McRae is ill, should they replace him now it would cost the club a lot of money and offer fewer options than if they went for a new coach at the end of the season. Also what kind of coach could the club attract at the moment with a franchise in the balance? Would somebody leave another coaching job with this uncertainty? Have you also considered the pending Superleague license and the next choice of coach could be the reasons why Ratchford hasn't signed a new deal yet?

It's expected that SM will not be offered a new deal and I'm sure the club are already doing their homework on who could be available to coach us in 2012.

[url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/sport-front-page/2011/03/29/ill-coach-shaun-mcrae-to-meet-salford-bosses-for-talks-on-future-115875-23022939/McRae talks on future[/url

McRae is having a meeting this week to discuss his future according to his agent

www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sp ... 6038141255 Tut...

www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sp ... 6038141255 Tut...