Sad to see MH go as, overall, I believe that he has done well thus far. However, that's where fans and employees differ. It's his job and you cannot blame him for making a move that, in his opinion, is furthering his career.

That's why people pay people like Hogan a fortune to jump ship I'm afraid - we would do well to not be too flippant about it. The only thing keeping RL alive is strength around the north west - it only takes one generation of kids to have their heads turned by union and we'll be gone.

As a kid I remember Orrell regularly playing 'Sale' as they were known then and regularly beating them, too. And Wasps, and London Irish. Prior to professionalism, and immediately after under Whelan, they threatened to do very well indeed.

So a comparison between Sale and Orrell, whilst irrelevant now, isn't all that mad.

In any case, we all know that the reason Orrell went tits up is because the old-fashioned com-mitt-eh wouldn't give up the old way of doing things in favour of Whelan's forward thinking plan to make them not only competitive, but great.



In all seriousness, what actually happened is anyone's guess, and not fathomable from what you choose to read. There are two very biased accounts out there - one of which is from the Orrell lot (who clearly wrote the Wikipedia entry) who say that Whelan was only every interested in the training pitches for development, and from the Whelan camp who say that Orrell were too stuck in their ways and resisted all attempts by Whelan to modernise the club, hence why he pulled his investment.

It's not for me to say which is closer to the truth, but I know which side I suspect to be.

I agree we cant rest on our laurels but moving them to LSV would be suicide imo. Its right in staunch Rugby league territory. With two massive clubs like us and Saints round the corner plus Warrington who are growing and will start to challenge for honours regularly theres not much to aim at is there?

I agree that Leigh looks a terrible choice for them, but any club with cash to throw at a project can probably pull a crowd in either code - depends how important the RFU think the north west is.

Lenegan's going through Chief Execs as quick as Mo did with coaches.

Thank you Mick for all your help over the last 2 years.

Wigan RLFC is in a much better state thanks to your hard work.

Even if Sale move to Leigh, the longer term plan seems to be a move to Barton with Salford.

MH going is a massive blow for the club, and it is critical that IL gets the right man with the right commitment this time around.

He came from the other code so not surprised he has gone back to RU, he did a good job for us just hope we get someone who knows the game and has worked in RL before and would help they have wigan in their heart/blood.

He did a good job for us so goodbye and good luck.

Alas, we shall never know his percentage body fat.

well Sale has a better set-up than Wigan and by some accounts IL isnt that good to work for. His move wasn't about money either, obviously he'd get a bigger pay packet from it but it's more to do with the challenge, cv, furthering career, more involvement with the playing side - which he hadn't had at wigan.


All the best Mick, helped pick this club up and i'm sure Sale will benefit immediately.

Where you hear all that?

I hope things work out for Mick too, but let's not be too bloody naive about this.

probably in walkabout on saturday night.

Quite correct.

Maybe.....

[urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/sale/8697343.stm[/url Keeping to the topic, I' am Sad to see Mick leave, If i had any problem's i knew he would sort them out for me. Sadly Going to be missed

We should get a petition going to keep him!

he's gone. we've 'lost' him.

game over

i'd love to have that foresight. you Ent


anyway I guess, or would hope that, Mick would keep in contact with some members of our club for help or advice, obviously us phoning him... but we'd have to see what our new guy is like first

Whats one of those?

'Ears, nose + throat'?

a fictional being... basically a 'living' tree from lord of the rings. strange i know.

If you've ever seen the Lord of the Rings films, "Treebeard" is an Ent-herder. The Ents look just like he does, only larger.

Yeah, well done Mick. We were in the dumps and you picked us up and got us to top of the table. Wigan's set up is rubbish and its impossible to work with Ian Lenegan!!

Or..

Ian Lenegan appointed Mick as part of his Own Management set-up headed by himself which has been by far the best in the League. Mick has bailed out with job half done and Lenegan feels let down.

I think we'll leave this thread be. The reasons for his departure is really none of our business in my view.