Very sad news, top bloke, excellent professional.

Was Baileys injury the same that Pat Richards has now?

His injury problems certainly started when he picked up an Achilles injury. Not sure if that's the same injury that's forced him to retire or whether he's picked up more injuries afterwards like Vaealiki, but it seems that was the injury that hampered him the most.

He seemed very well respected in his time at the club and i'd have no problems if they did take him onto the coaching staff.

I'd take him as a coach at Wigan.

Get him under the Madge regime and we could potentially have found Wane’s number 2 when Madge leaves.

Maybe its just his looky likey that retired?

massaive shame - his experience and vision won us alot of games

Great Fella, he is a big Character, a surefire coach for the future. its a shame for him and Salford.

Bit harsh on Darren Fletcher, who coached the reserves to a championship win despite his best players being out on loan.

Well get them both at the club and let Wane judge.

If Fletcher gets it give Bailey the 21’s job if not keep Fletcher there.

Either way I don’t think who ever replaces Wane as the number 2 will ever manage Wigan for more than a season as simply that’s far to long to promote from within.

I'm hoping Rads gets that spot - he's working up the coaching qualification ladder.

We need to be developing British coaches, not Aussie ones.

Why does it matter?

Does Phil Bailey care any less than an English coach would? Does Madge care any less as he’s an Aussie.

When you reach the elite level it matter very little where your coach is from imo as it should be the best guys for the job.

No point picking someone as they are English

If we want to see an England side led by someone like McNamara, no it doesn't matter.

Again why an English person?

Sad news. All the best to PB.

Well said. I have no complaints about Maguire, as his record speaks for itself, and other top quality foreign head coaches but we should be appointing young English coaches as assistant and reserve coaches to learn from the likes of Maguire. If we stack the coaching system with foreign coaches we will have even less decent English coaches than we have now.

+1

Sad news for Bails.

When I read about his retirement from playing my mind sprung to the possibility of him becoming a coach or being employed by the club in some kind of role.

When Forshaw left am I right in saying Hampo has been filling the void left by Forshaw assisting with the first team duties and therefore doubling up with his u18s assistant role and first team duties?

If that's the case and there's been no replacement then I was thinking maybe Bails could slot in there.

Because there are only 14 Superleague head coach jobs available, and 14 assistant coaches, and I want to see some sort of career path for the British players into coaching once their playing days end, so that the next generation of Farrells, Fords and Edwards' are not lost to the game through lack of opportunity.

I also want to see a much better quality and quantity of coach available for the international set up, which should reflect the talent available in your league - if the current crop of Agar, McNamara, Lowes, Kear reflect our coaching standards there is something seriously wrong.

Phil Bailey is a true professional and it is a shame his career has ended in this way. Its no surprise that with players such as himself and Bryan Fletcher at the club over the past few years and with the coaches we have had that players such as J Tomkins, Mossop, Tuson, Farrell have developed the way they have. I am pretty sure Bailey would make an excellent coach and I would certainly have him at Wigan.

Gutted for Phil, he's a top bloke who always has time to have a chat etc, whatever he decides to do from now on im sure he will do well at,

All the best Bails,



Thanks for that last second try @ Headingly back in the day. (think it ws 06)

gives more credence to Gleeson going taking up Baileys cap space!

suprised we have managed so well without him TBH, given that many on here said we would struggle without his "experience"