Would be interesting to see the calibre of applicants we supposedly had from all over the world.

No reason to think they wouldn't have been top notch.

Still, we have proved in the past that a top, trophy winning coach isn't neccessarily going to succeed in this club.

Darth- Is that where BU lives?

I am not really sure what to make of this decision. Granted there has been a massive turn around in the teams performance since Tony arrived and he deserves a lot of credit for that but I cant overlook the fact that at least some of the change will be down to the simple fact that Powell has gone.
I didn't think Tony was a good enough coach the first time around to take the team where it needed to be and since then he has not done much in the way of coaching. I do wonder if the credentials of all the applicants were really that great after all

Anyway I hope I am wrong and I certainly wish Tony all the best and every success and will be more than happy to end up with egg on my face

Perhaps it might be a good idea for you to start house hunting again in the London area, as Tony might soon if not already beware aware of your mate Gus's limits and let David Hughes know. This could be your big opportunity. Have you bags packed at the ready

So its Tony Rea .... never saw that coming

My god I am in shock. Tony Rea's appointment even made the BBC 1 o'clock news. Just was down in my works restaurant and the news was on - normally we're never mentioned.

I am beginning to think that this Gillingham thing is a load of old cobblers, as surely that would have been an enormous negative in TR`s decision to sign.......yes we might be moving at some time in the future (I hope not), but surely it would be to another London ground.

TR calls missus........`Guess what we are all moving to Gillingham for a couple of years`
TR`s missus...........`My lawyer will be in touch and I want custody of the kids`!!!

Tony Rea was rumoured to have had only £900k to spend in his last season of 2006.

We started the season plagued by injury and our thin squad took heavy beatings by the likes of Bradford, St Helens and Leeds but this was compounded by unacceptable home losses to Castleford and Wakefield.

I'd suggest that in 2006 Rea had only half a squad of experienced and quality players including McLinden, Leuluai, Hopkins, Purdham, Danny Williams, Dorn, Randall, Temata, Mbu, Tookey and Sykes. This was supplemented by good first year professionals like Tony Clubb, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Mike Worrincy.

Others like Wells, Gafa, Heckenberg. Sheriffe and Tyrone Smith were not of a top eight standard.

But they were relatively strong compared to some of the unknowns, fringe players and lower league standard players such as Pat Weisner, Filimone Lolohea, Tim Hartley, Paul Noone and Neil Budworth plus Nick Bradley-Qalilawa who he had to draw on that season.

I think Tony was doing acceptably with what he had to spend and his previous track record of relative success suggested that we would be ok going forward. But Lenagan just fired him. That seemed hasty to me. I'm glad Tony is back.

Cheers
Rammo

Good positive step forward, well done Tony and all.

What did he say out of interest?

BU is Aldershot area.

Guildford is the training facility that Quins RU use-It's not a playing ground, there are no stands. A number of the womens World Cup games were played there.

I suspect The Aldershot Military facilities are also being considered as a training base(Quins RU and the British Lions RU have used them in the past). A grass patch with run down changing facilities on the edge of the A3 is not suitable for a top club to train at.

Welcome back TR. I hope his remit includes the ongoing development of the youth programme-Something he never really got involved with previously.

His coaching staff appointments will be interesting-A new fitness coach is in, just needs a No 2 and 3. It would be interesting to know what he "offered" Powell in the new structure.

He was so pppppped off that he congratulated all the Broncos players on their performance ( see other thread ).

Rob - TS said (laughing) that he'd heard quite enough of the fans chanting Tony Reas' Barmy Army!

Really surprised that Tony has accepted the challenge of taking us forward.
I spoke to him after the Salford game & he was adamant that his interests in Australia would prevent him from taking the Managers job.
So glad that David Hughes & the players have persuaded him to take the job & us onto better times.
I'm actually looking forward to next season now, wherever we're playing. (Hope sense prevails & we stay in London)
"Welcome home Tony"

Well said, Bronco Billy.

Gets me thinking I should go to all the away games next season!

Well I hold my hands up for my part in that then- sorry Tony!

No chance of me attempting to try that again Dan. (Even with the team playing as they are now, all next season)
Been there, tried it, failed !!!!
Total respect to the small band of supporters who manage to do this.

being a northerner and never been to gillingham is it that bad

Really pleased to see Tony Rea as coach.

Probably wishful thinking on my part, but given his history wth the club, I would imagine he was given inside information on where we are playing next year and that this was a factor in him accepting the role

YES

Not to someone from East Hull it wouldn't be



Seriously, it's nowhere near as bad as some are making out....................
BUT it ain't LONDON! Oh and btw, we're meant to be watching rugby, not doing a Kirsty and Phil critique of the local environs.

Welcome Back Full Time Tony

I spoke to Tony a few weeks ago and he described himself sitting in front of the Sky Sports Scorecentre 'watching' London Broncos when he was in Australia.

When he explained his business was him talking to senior execs in insurance and financial services I thought he could easily get back into that in future.

So I started to think that he was close to the 'tipping point' of putting his hat in the ring. With other noise nuisances like One Arm and Big Al we've been trying to repeatedly chant his song until he was brainwashed and gave in.



Easy
Rammo

TR stayed with Hughsey last week. I'm sure thats when the deal was struck.