I know what you mean.But he was given a four & half year contract,which is a long time in RL.Perhaps,just perhaps,he was told,"look,there's no money for the 1st couple of years in Super League,your job's safe,just keep us ticking over,and we'll see what we can do for the 3rd year".
We must have been desperate to get him to give him such a long contract,and that's another reason to keep him as it would use up money that could be spent elsewhere to pay him up.

To be fair to JAW and/or whoever negotiated a deal, SMc was by far the most well-recognised and successfully coach we'd appointed in a good, long while and we needed some stability so, at the time, a long term deal seemed like a good idea.

The 2009 team also had littler, sibbit, alker,fitzy, big phil, Highto of the top of my head who were on their last legs thats why we couldnt kick on to 2006 heights they were all still under contract because after our relegation we needed to bounce back up, the landscape had changed dramaticly from 2003 financially so we gave these players big contracts to bounce us back up with a mix of young talented and cheap players, protect our younger players and give them time to develop.

This happened, in many ways you could argue it was the young players that carried us through.....anyway... the old guard were roared off this year rather than paid off sooner with their heads held high and mcrae for the 1st time has a full set of senior players which are his, will buy into his theorys and follow his plan to the letter

Dunnerman was world class for us, Holdswoth is world class, im glad we learned the lesson over dunnerman you build a team round such a talent and you will go far we still have a youthful team you took the 2006 pack as it was then jumped in a time machine and played them this year i recon we'd be playoffs for sure, its not a dig @ the younger players its just that in 2006 the players were @ the right age and were physically and mentally ready to go to the next level.

It will come again sooner than you think.

Anyway all this talk of teams 2003 team was great too, clinch the pinch doing what dunnerman did and the wizard is doing now, sir clifford of beverley, the rugby genius, jason "flowers of salford", littler, alker, david highton, blakeley showing us flashes took us back to the amarillo - the promise land when it reaily was promotion or bust

I think this is a great point. Let's see what 'Smack' does next year with a new team of his own and then judge.....

Let's have a bit of positivity on here.....

It's a win win situation for me. McRae's coaching reputation has been severely damaged over the past 2 years and I can't see him being of any interest to other Superleague/NRL clubs. If McRae wants to continue coaching at this level he will know better than anyone that he really has to start delivering more results next year. Maybe McRae's effort, enthusiam and focus will go up a few notches in the knowledge he will be working with a much stronger looking squad that look capable of making the play-offs.
However if the team don't get off to a good start in 2011 I think he will be in a very vulnerable position for an early retirement.

There is some chatter about Millward going to Widnes to take over from Cullen.

There is a link on the clubs official site to an article in today's MEN (online) by Neil Baker, confirming that Millward has officially applied for the post.
Sorry if this is old news.

THE DREAM TEAM ?

[url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/rugby_league/s/1325095_millward_chases_salford_roleVIEW IT HERE[/url

Along with eleven others apparently. Would be very interesting to know who they are?

Or a nightmare!

I wonder if Wayne Bennett has thrown his cap in the ring?

DO YOU THINK our NEW DREAM TEAM COULD WORK "king of the shed" ?

[iHonest answer now, no duckin and diving[/i

I was thinking about this and come to the conclusion that the club wouldn't appoint an assistant to Shaun Mcrae without his agreement. I therefore believe that if Millward was chosen it would be because Mcrae believes he can work with him and he's the best man for the job. But it is hypothetical at the moment until an announcement is made.

In short, NO. In a longer explanation, To many cooks spoiling the broth for me, clash of personalities between Shaun and Ian which could upset the camp with one wanting to play or do things one way and the other, well, the other. It could damage Malc’s development as he won’t know who to listen too or follow and the team could end up with conflicting messages, and they also may choose one or the other to listen too.

I know clubs have multiple coaches, Manager/Coach, Assistant, Fitness, Defensive, Attacking etc but this is different, they are both experienced first grade coaches with different styles.

Bad move for me.

Did we not have a similar situation several years ago with Ashcroft & Grainey that seemed to work very well?

Nope Tommy Grainey was number two to Ashcroft (with Bob watsit as mainly A-Team coach)

My point was that Tommy Grainey was first team coach of Swinton before joining Salford as Ashcroft's assistant.

It's a totally different situation now in the full time game, I remember Tommy spending time on the Shed roof fixing it whilst training was actually going on!

What he hadn't done was travelled 12,000 miles to be an assistant, Millward has already coached a double Super League, double Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge winning team and also been voted Coach of the Year. Not to mention being assistant coach at two teams in the best league in the world!

There a few on here praying for mcrae to undertake that role this season, they might even go all "Midsummer murder"





But he hasnt coached Salford City Reds yet, probably Rugby leagues hardest coaching role imo

Even harder than the England Football Manager's Job because Salford fans are even less realistic. (Think this is what Mr Mcrae was getting at during an interview for the BBC Sport website)

kots, are you suggesting that Millward wouldn't be satisfied with a 2nd in command role because of his past successes ? ..... and that this could lead to conflict & unrest ?
If so, and your worst fears become reality, I agree, it would be bad news in a season involving license applications and the clubs desire to leave The Willows on a high.
However, if he is given the job, would you agree that he may just be happy to have a foot in the door, and be willing to bide his time until the head coach job became available.
I'm not saying that this is what I can see happening, but it's a possibility.

Well imo Salford is a bit of a pandoras box of issues which you are battling against
We are a potential big club trapped in the mentality of small clubs body, our fan base has took such a hammering over the years with promises, then failure more promises and more failure its hard for us fans and the club to build a “winning mentality” and increase attendances. The players and coaches Im sure sometimes forget they are employed by one of the top 14 clubs in the country because
1) our profile in the city and the area always being put down as “sorry salford” ect
2) where we currently play tucked away in weaste they can mooch around manchester just like a face in the crowd and not be recognised like they would if they played for wigan for example

The club don’t have a lot of money so spend so sometimes it’s a “make do attitude” or just “do enough” when it comes to websites, shops rather than pushing back the barriers and seeing when we go on what we have.


Its not all bad tho…

It seems the Harrison years we have been able to improve our youth system down to the rugby genius being involved and off the field with the new stadium right next to the motorway with nowhere to hide around the corner after 10 long years people are beginning to take notice and want to be part of it, the new internet shop will hopefully soon be backed up with a new official website that runs a bit quicker add the fact the facebook and twitter accounts are going great guns with news exclusives we are targeting new audiences all the time
Our community projects are doing very well in the community spreading the word and touching new potential fans something that until recently haven’t really heard of .

On and Off the field we are on the cusp of something, the leap from small club also ran to main competitor big club is a large one and the club need to be prepared both on and off the field for the potential avalanche of new support when “old fans and new fans” wake up to where salford city reds are and where they are going.
This will bring expectation and excitement which everyone within the club will need to embrace and not let sufficate, its improved 100% on the late 90s early 00 both on and off and they should be applauded for that but we need to go up another level both on and off the field if we are to compete at super league level.

You’d hope Millward/Mcrae can use their experience coaching higher profile clubs to turn the juggernaut which is salford city reds around and make them a force on the field which makes the job of the field a little bit easier, all it needs is a cup final or a season of winning more than you lose and this club will take off in its new stadium





.

Amen Brother

Good grief - the optimist is being optimistic - whatever next?

Starbug from the Leigh forum becoming less obsessed about our new stadium perhaps!