I’m genuinely shocked at this. IL has got to respond and the sooner the better. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/s ... ref=twtrec

I’m genuinely shocked at this. IL has got to respond and the sooner the better. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/s ... ref=twtrec

Shaun Edwards insists he hasn't signed a contract with Wigan and he himself finds it strange.

He said: "I agreed with Wigan and thought we would sign a contract but then Wigan said, ‘It’s OK, we’ll sign one later,' and I thought that was unusual. And that was nine months ago."

I’m certainly not surprised at all,it was an odd arrangement to begin with but now the cat is out of the bag and it’s time for Lenegan to clarify what on earth is going on,not sound bites either a picture of the man signing a deal or a statement the club have decided not to move on with the deal.

Whatever happens it’s a farce

I've not once slated IL for his actions at Wigan. However this one is plain ridiculous and embarrassing for him.

Perhaps Lenny is hoping to pick up someone cheap who can take over sooner than that and guide us back out of the Championship. Having said that I do believe that he has a clear plan, I just do not think that I will necessarily like it that much.

On the one hand not letting the opposition know your plans can be seen as a positive, unfortunately creating destabilising uncertainty never has a positive effect.

Paul Deacon to take over? Zero chance of Edwards coaching Wigan next year.

It just gets weirder!

It's a disgrace is this situation

Shaun Edwards in early February told several of the Welsh RU players directly he will not be taking over at Wigan. He has also declined several invitations to be studio guest of Sky.

Now Lenagan needs to provide some clarity on the whole situation. Something doesn’t feel right at the minute with the way the club is being run and it’s all getting very messy.

I believe that it is time for the Baldrick moment.

Edwards saying that the deal was verbally agreed 9 months ago could be quite telling. That puts it at about June time and only a month after Wane's 'surprise' resignation. So either;

a) Wane leaving wasn't the surprise it was claimed and Lenagan was already aware and making plans
b) Wane leaving was a surprise, and despite Lenagan saying he was taking time to find the right candidate that was just manure and he had already decided Edwards was the man he wanted without really considering other potential options from within the game - and spent most of that time trying to find the right person to plug the gap for a year.
c) Lenagan was already in talks with Edwards before Wane announced his departure and that was one of the 'things that happened' which resulted in Wane leaving. So in essence, Wane jumped before he was pushed in favour of someone who probably won't even take charge at all.

The deal only made sense if the club had signed a contract with Edwards because he was the absolute number 1 choice and Lam was definitely only an interim coach with no chance of staying on. As soon as there was suggestion that maybe Lam would continue it became ridiculous. If the club had signed a contract with Edwards they'd have to pay him off to keep Lam on. Now we know they haven't signed a contract we have the issue of our great prodigal son, number one target and the whole reason we have this odd coaching situation to begin with, being a free agent and able to take up any other job he wants.

If Wane was pushed out for Edwards and he doesn't end up taking the job at all then this whole situation is a black mark on Ian Lenagan's time at the club. He's done a lot of good for the club but we've been getting into worrying territory recently. The salary cap fiasco, signing Hardaker and then him immediately letting everyone and himself down, the Joel Tomkins situation and the myriad unanswered questions and the 'investigation' that got swept under the carpet with him moving to Hull KR, the falling attendances, the significant losses and the almost certainly related departures of high profile players, the statement about Bateman's departure that feature an outright lie.

Says in the Wigan Evening post Wigan have been approached for comment so we shall see...... Strange times at our great club!!

My guess is like the Williams situation he’ll refuse and keep everyone in the dark until he can work out how to spin things. His bluff has been called now by Edwards and John Bateman in the past few months.

Embarrassing

I have been a huge supporter of IL however my patience is starting to wear a bit thin.

Why on earth would you parade Edwards as the next coach when no contract has been signed. It’s just plain crazy.

AND at the time claim he has “signed a three year contract” which is obviously not correct.

It just seems like a season ticket stunt now?

Edwards was in the stands taking notes before the announcement that Wane was leaving / Edwards was the HC for 2020.

It clearly wasn't a surprise for anyone.

Or maybe the contract wasn't iron clad and Edwards has backed out because a better offer has come up?

I could be reading into it...
But to me that says 'at the end of the world cup, sack Lam, and come and get me....and it's going to cost you!'

This is unforgiveable from Lenegan. To string everybody along that it was all set in stone and a done deal and then this come out..... No wonder Edwards has been putting out strange comments for the last few months, he too does not seem to know what the hell is going on. It really would not surprise me now if Edwards says no out of principle for being messed around. It seems that all of this was never anything more than an 'idea'.

Union World Cup doesn’t finish until November so no sacking needed. I was always against this arrangement but even more so now I’ve found out it’s not even arranged!

A handshake does constitute an agreement and is legally binding, maybe this is how the meeting went!

This is more exciting than our current standard of play