Can't wait to renew my ticket for the Wakey Rollercoaster ride.

Indeed but I doubt that's the reason in this case.

He knows it's his last hurrah and at 61 a year is enough to know whether he has it in him. He may not as you say always do his full term but tbd in our case he's shown astonishing staying power - he could and possibly should for his own mental well being walked after the Cas game - who could have blamed him - but he didn't.

My call for optimism on another thread was mainly born of faith - Smith decision seems to indicate he see's something at BV which most Trinity fans don't. It's lifted me that's for sure especially as it's not like he really needs the work.

Wonder if we will have the same or new conditioner.

Personally think the conditioner thing is a red herring. In his first two seasons at the club Clarkson had the team fit enough. He like the players has been allowed to slip. What he needs is a kick up the harris and some training. Wouldn't be surprised to See Smith junior over helping and re-educating.

Everyone deserves a second chance - if the staff and the Players are to dumb to respond they will be out - I think you'll see a response.

Here's hoping BS will kick off a new successful era for WT like he did at Bradford. Didn't he only have a season or so there?

I'm honestly really surprised by this, I didn't expect him to stay.

Absolutely thrilled with this news..... well done to everyone concerned.

Now let's build this baby!

Good news for the club to have a decent coaching foundation, albeit what could be only a short term tenure.

If anyone knows the character of this year’s squad it’s Brian Smith, let’s hope he is able to ship out the non-committed & hopefully bring in some replacements that will be up for a further fight.

Whoever becomes his assistant is the crucial call, for the long term stability of the team.

Well done to the club for securing his services.

It might turn out to be a rolling 1 year contract that both parties review at the end of the next season, there's no guarantee that he'll stay or go at the end of this contract.

Absolutely fantastic news. Lets hope we have new signings announced soon to help build on the "feel good factor" and that will encourage people to buy season tickets. I will be buying one which will be the first time for 5 years.

The length of the contract is perfect. At 61 and a long way from home, any longer contract could have still ended up with him deciding to pack it in earlier (who would force a coach to see out a contract?) but there would have been no succession plan in place.

I've not been MC's greatest fan in relation to how deals with his customers, but I have to say that his end of season dealings have been inspired and I reckon hindsight will show that it was the period that secured the future of the club, with a coach who is more than just about the team on the park and the reduced rent at Belle Vue.

I was going to get a season ticket anyway, and was prepared to write off this year as the line in the sand, the bottom of the barrel, but that has secured it.

Onwards and upwards.

I expected a player to be named but this beats any signing as it's the foundation needed to build.
Well done to all involved and thank you for giving some optimism back to a us.
Can't wait to see whose signed now and February can't come soon enough

Great news. Very important signing.

My brother is a good friend of Brian Smith, and Smithy only agreed to a new contract on this agreement, that is when Wakefield Wildcats are 'well adrift' at the bottom of Super League in June 2016, he can bring in 10 new players, and concentrate of the middle 8's, rather than try and climb up the SL table.

Sounds like a good deal to me

Troll fail from a Leigh fan.

What I'd do is focus on how you did in the Middle 8's rather than how we did.

Ithink its the best thing to happen at the club for quite some time. M C will have a coach at the helm that will shake things up over the next 12 months , and put the club well on the recovery path. Supporters will recognise a difference in fitness levels, set and followed game plans and player ability.
Heading to B V will become a pleasure not a duty .
! year can see Trinity turn the corner and im sure with new players on the way we are all in for a much better time.
Well done M C .

Superb news, THE most important signing we will make for next season.
Great work by MC and his team to keep hold of the guy, fantastic !

Knew you were lying when you said you and your brother had a friend, all you've got is a bunch of sour grapes and a wooden spoon!

Ta Ta Troll

If they're the rules, where is the problem



It's been very quiet in the suburbs of Wigan lately, did your season not quite go to plan

Smith is a massive appointment, and I'm really happy about it.

However, let's not get too carried away. The team is still the same team give or take a signing or too.
We should of course aim for the 8s but if we are in middle 8 but we are clear of the Million pound game, and we have a stable club, I'd say it was success.

Understandable post TK.I'd be frustrated and skitty if we'd failed big style.

Tremendous news - and a real sign that the club is committed to a serious change of culture next season; I hope Brian Smith agreed to stay on the proviso that he's given a free hand with all things rugby and he uses the liberty of a 1 year deal to do some difficult but necessary things.

This sends a good, strong message - I'm in.

Totally agree.
The good thing about it is that we can look forward to quality players coming in because I'm sure BS would have insisted on that.
So, it won't be the same team in any way shape or form I don't think. Even the players we have will perform differently next season, I'm quite sure of that!

Absolutely delighted with this. I think this could be one of the if not the most significant signing Trinity have made in my 30+ years of following them.

With a full pre-season and a near complete squad that he assembles (admittedly late to the table on negotiations) I think that next year we will see how world class he is.

I won't be carried away saying we'll contend for trophies however against the benchmark of 2015 we will see a big difference. He transformed the fortunes of Hull FC and Bradford and we are at a lower point than they were.

Exciting times indeed.

Full credit to Michael Carter on recruiting BS. I hope people will give Carter credit rather than all the constant sniping by some. We are rebuilding this club from the bottom up. Being in a strong financial footing and an expert coach changing the culture from top to bottom is just what we need.

It should lift every supporter, its not only a coaching appointment . Brian Smith will bring a whole new culture to the club that will start at the top and work down . Long suffering supporters are in for a treat. The club will benefit and the supporters can look forward to much better performances.