Interesting thread. I think Cullen probably secured his own downfall by bringing in so many big names. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but as a coach with such a strong squad the excuses for loses are a lot harder.

On a more general note, and in line with the theme of the original post, what I find most remarkable is how we write-off coaches who, after a period of relative success at a club lose their job because of a poor season.

By contrast down-under, a coach may lose his job in the NRL, but has some chance of gaining another one at the top level. Here, if you've had a bad season in the top flight and you're English, then whatever you've acheived before is forgotten and you have to start again in the lower divisions- such as Cullen and Harrison have had to. Others will get bounced down to assistant, like Jon Sharpe now or John Kear was for a time, and more still will drift away from the game.

I know its a cliche, but we judge coaches on their last game (or few games). However, the Aussies tend to judge them on their career as a whole and offer coaches with decent records more chances.

Do you have an example of when the board didn't back him? Did he resign after the Cas game?

With respect your predictions do need to be taken with a little pinch of salt as, afterall, you were the one with "We will win Silverware under PC" well up until about 2005 anyway.

He wasn't supported when he wanted to have certain players moved out of the club. Strangely the board backed Tony Smith when he made the same demands.

And predictions are just opinions and anyone with any sense surely must have felt with the resources at his command Cullen should have delivered a trophy. It is still a surprise to many that he didn't. Including me.

That's the crux of the problem he had I guess. He was "good", not great, and his "nice bloke" tactics didn't really win him any favours either.

Glad he managed to get another gig in management though. I feared the Warrington job would be his last.

On another point, alot of people have said "stayed too long" "should have gone sooner" etc.. Not many people will willingly walk from any job unless they have something else lined up, so I'm not sure I follow that one
The wording you typically hear in sport such as "left by mutual consent" typically mean sacked but 'this way it looks better for both of us'. Very rarely do people just up and resign - even in sport.

Wonder if he will ever get another shot at the coaching job here?

Were any of the players he wanted moved on the same as the ones he recruited? Why did PC put up with being undermined by the board?

I agree PC should have delivered a much better return with the resources at his disposal.

Difficult one to answer that as PC didn't always agree with/ sanction some of the players brought into the club. One of those players was one who he hadn't specifically targetted (we all know who that is).

The answer to the other one; fear of being out of a job, loyalty to the club maybe?