As an aside from Wane going? Who would you like to replace him?

Lam, to work with Winder, if he is staying. What will actually happen, obviously, is anybodies guess, but I would be surprised if something is not already in place.

Few names to consider

John Winder - Continuity reasons only

Wayne Bennett - Could be available if Broncos decide to get Craig Bellamy for 2019

2020 - Edwards with Sol / TL coaching staff

Would love Trent Barrett he could do wonders with Williams.

I don't think they have a replacement lined up. Wigan coach is a plum job, now that it's out there they will see who approaches them IMO. No need to rush or panic and I'm sure IL and KR won't do so.

Farrell or Edwards for me.

Winder and we riot.

We didn't panic with Madge, so I'm hoping for a similar process now.

The thing about Wanes resignation is, this will now spur half of the SL coaches to really knuckle in and crack on and put themselves in the shop window.

I could imagine the likes of Chris Chester being in the mix, while Denis Betts and perhaps even the likes of Powell and McDermott are licking their lips right now. not that i'd wish to have any of those at the helm to be honest.

but lets be realistic, there is no way this is an out of the blue thing as the BBC report suggest. something must already be sorted, both for Wane and whoever is replacing him. no wonder we have had so much back and forth with Gildart, Sam announcing he was off and even more worryingly the lack of news on Bateman.

I'll have a little guess that IL will have known about this for a decent amount of time and all due diligence will have been done & his predecessor lined up and sorted way before this was released.

Same as those saying that ZAK Hardaker signed for Wane and now he's leaving - It will have been sorted way before.

I disagree entirely with the suggestion we have someone lined up. This smacks of a sudden departure rather than a developed one.

There will be no shortage of candidates but this job has Shaun Edwards written all over it.

How can it if "this job has Shaun Edwards written all over it"?
Surely a contradiction in terms?

PS
For my money and this is exactly what I said end of last year - IL will not make his mind up & act spur of the moment - he will plan things and it wouldn't surprise me if he has said to Wane he can have 12 more months 2018 and we'll look for your successor for 2019.

Believe me or not - That's exactly what I thought would happen and bearing in mind I knew of Madge's arrival at the end of 2008, that's exactly what I think will have happened here.

Would be very surprised if Betts is considered to be honest. I feel for him slightly, because I think he's a good, and it's just a shame that Widnes clearly don't have the resources to show what he can do imo.

Of the others, I expect Chester's in with a shout as I've said elsewhere. It'd be interesting to see if Powell would be interested. He's clearly got a bee in his bonnet about Wane's Wigan, and has done an amazing job with his hometown club. Will he want to move, even if it's to the biggest club in the country? Would it work even if he did? Seems a bit too similar to Brian Clough going to Don Revie's Leeds!

As for McDermott, avoid like the plague.

Paul Deacon

As I’ve just said on the other thread, great call and one I’d be happy with

Has Micky Higham got his coaches badge?

Yes

That’s a name Dave Woods mentioned on the BBC site.

It’s tough to judge him based on assistant roles only but I wouldn’t be against him.

Give me an open cheque book and a choice if anybody in this country and I’d go Lee Radford. He’s in Wanes mould and fits our policy of bringing the youngsters through. He won’t leave Hull though sadly.

I’m sure it’s already sorted whoever it is. I get the feeling Wane will be at Catalans next year and will have known for a long while that he will be. My guess is that he knew that in advance of McIlorum and now Tomkins moving there.

Phil Wilkinson suggesting that Deacs signed an extended contract not long ago, at Sale...

I googled him earlier when I read Dave Woods mentioning him. He signed a four year extension at the end of 2016 by the looks of things.

Not sure the likes of Chris Chester, Dennis Betts, Paul Deacon & Micky Higham will entice stay away supporters to come hurrying back to the DW.

1). The crowds have decreased year on year last few seasons (despite marked improvement in performances & results this season). A big name will no doubt be needed to bring back these supporters. The above won’t bring that in my view.

2). Can you imagine a couple of losses in the first few games? Wigan fans are renowned for their demand of success. This board & Facebook would be in meltdown blaming IL of ‘doing it on the cheap as usual’.

For what it’s worth I wouldn’t be against Deacon in Assistant Coach again.


I’m excited at just the mere possibility that Shaun Edwards ‘may’ be in line. With a good Assistant Coach (Deacon, Tony Smith?) it could work.

He’s the kind of signing that would fill some seats at the DW, which is priority for IL.

I said in the rumours thread last week he was going to catalans and Edwards is coming in and got asked if I believed in father Christmas.
The info I'm getting is Edwards is coming in and he's going to France that's why Tomkins signed for them because he knew Wane was going.

As much as Edwards returning would have all of the prodigal son hallmarks from a coaching standpoint he has had no coaching experience in RL, or day to day contact with the sport since he left, he hasn't had the lead coach job in RU at any level, while he obviously has the respect he deserves his first trip into a head coach position maybe shouldn't be back at Wigan.
Plus I dont know the whole position but his son is very important to him and moving to the North wouldnt give him anything other than a long distance relationship.

Appointing Edwards as the new coach has an equal chance of failing as it does as succeeding, is that a gamble that you want to take?

Abso-frigging-lutely!!

There's no guarantee of trophies even with a top class RL coach (Noble, Millward...etc).

There is a quote I quite like and use often:

[iI would rather have a life of "oh well's" than a life of "what if's".[/i

Betts has been and gone, and left no mark. McDermott is a bit of an immovable object at Leeds, and frankly, they're welcome to him. Powell is a chippy Yorkshireman who wouldn't be happy unless he was east of the Pennines (plus we've now signed ZH - couldn't see it working for that reason alone). Chester would be a popular appointment because he played well for Wigan and he's a top bloke ... but I can't help thinking that we need someone more exciting.

I'd be surprised if IL didn't look to really shake things up and opt for a 'complete new era' coach ... a revolutionary appointment along the lines of Lowe and McGuire. At least, I hope that's what he'll go for.

If it is Edwards, I suspect he'll be smart enough to bring in the right assistant coaches to give the right advice.