£3 a month, 4K fans, should pay for a decent coach, “fund a coach” I’m in

I was thinking along the same lines!!
I'm in

Andy Last as unfortunately changed nothing at all despite 5 months in charge in which to do so.
As I've mentioned, yesterday was his big interview for the top job and he spectacularly blew it, there is something fundamentally flawed with the coaching hierarchy at the club.

I'd put coaching recruitment ahead and above anything else at the club, there's no point signing new players to join our rudderless ship.

A new coach and culture is a must.

I'd join the fund a new coach club too.
Imo it's the most important signing we make next.

oooh Gravy wants a change now, I'm saying we can't afford it, plain and simple.
And who's to say any coach would want to come under the current circumstances? Watson has a 3 year contract and would be daft to move on.
People on here seem to think that if we want him we'll get him. Same with players. If only it were that simple.

I disagree. I think AP is not of the mind to gamble when the situation is so tight.

Where will the funds come from for a new coach. Are we expecting him to remortgage his home to roll the dice on a new coach when if there's a second COVID wave and no furlough the club is doomed regardless?

I also think that AP knows he has some of the most unflinchingly loyal fans on the planet in his can base. People talk about IAKOW but I genuinely believe that once the essential bills are paid there are many FC fans who'd give all their disposable income to the cause.

Another mistake by Pearson for giving Radford an extended contract on the back of consistently poor performances and zero change in playing style yet huge investment in personnel. AP has made far too many errors and this is all coming to a head, it's costing him money in his business, and we are a business right as this is an investment fr him not a play thing, he bought the club to make money.

Now he obviously doesn't want to invest any more money in his business (and that's his prerogative) thus it's massively more likely to fail/not succeed. Consistently he's paid out for players/players with big salaries for a coach that was unable to exploit their talents to the max and get them playing as a team that loked like winning the league. IF he had invested in a top rated coach, or even held onto the one we had (who did improve us hand over fist from Agar with a bunch of youngsters in the team) then not only could the same result of CC wins being achieved but a whole host mre.
We've had some fantastic squads whilst Radford was in charge, some say the best we've had since the early 80s, yet IMO we've under performed, the last 3 years pretty badly.

I want us to succeed obviously, but it looks like Pearson has thrown the towel in, chucking money for players but having someone at the helm that simply isn't remotely good enough to make those players into a winning team is a waste of money.

The money comes from Pearson, it's his business/investment afterall is it not? As an investor you have to take the bad with the good, especially when it's your decisions that have cost you financially. Simply saying there is no money because you failed to run your business successfully points a poor picture of the company owner.

Lets ignore the potential millions lost to coronavirus, clearly irrelevent.

That’s why many felt at the time that resigning Fonua was the wrong thing to do as we were and are pretty covered in that area. Shouldn’t have changed the plans and go short in the props just to get Fonua in.

Do you think a problem is you sign as many South Sea Islanders as possible who maybe don’t care enough whether they win or lose ?

No pride in the shirt etc

25% of our 2020 squad players can play at prop so not an issue for me. I see the main problem being the complete lack of creativity in the spine which has been there for a while. Sneyd, Shaul and Houghton offer little to nothing under the new rules Also play Connor in the starting team.

Totally agree we have no effective pivots who offer any creativity, consistency or leadership

COVID-19 has of course had a massive effect on all clubs. Pearson’s poor decision making cannot be ignored though. The pandemic is not responsible for Sunday’s performance.

I’d say establishing a first class squad is AP outstanding commitment to us, the result on Sunday is resting at the feet of the players, no guts, no desire.

AP has already recruited a first class squad, what is sadly lacking is the coaching ability to match the quality that is already there within that team.

Sunday's result rests firmly at the door of the players and coaching team equally, there is something fundamentally wrong within the coaching and playing staff dynamics.

Don’t disagree read my earlier posts.

But as “ccs” correctly states, circumstances according to AP and his wallet will not allow us to enter the upgrade coach market, think the majority would like a Watson or a Powell Ward etc, but unfortunately it’s not happening.

Or how about, we swap Tony Smith, let Lasty do his apprenticeship as head coach at a club we’re just fling it about will do, and TS gets back coaching a team with a chance of winning the GF. Then we’ll evaluate in 2021.

Hi all, had covid off the board but thought I would come back as rugby has started again. I can totally understand why Last was appointed coach due to financial reason but i was not impressed at at the time and even more so now. Different coach same old team.

If we want to be a great club, we have got to clear out the same old coaching staff and bring in brand news ideas, for years its been the same old thing and bringing through the understudy's has proved time and time again to just not work.

Welcome back Punos and I hope you are now fully recovered

Pearson’s main mistake was not to recruit a top class coach first and then look to build a team. It’s no good spending all your money on players however good they are if the coach is incapable getting the best out of them.

I good leader does not put the cart before the horse. As the top honcho Pearson has to take responsibility for the situation he finds himself in.

I think he would have if Covid hadn't hit home.

I'm still hopefully we will have a new coach in place for next season.

I understand the difference Covid has made, however what does AP do?
Should he see out the season with Last now there's no threat of relegation but jeopardise future investment from fans and sponsors alike should our current form and performances continue or does he go for a new coach now, take on an extra salary but possibly rejuvenate the club and fans.

I don't see how we have to go overseas for recruitment when we have Watson. Ward or Ford here.
I'd be happy to have any of them at our club.

Tony Smith would be ideal for our club but can you imagine the rift then between Pearson and Hudge
If you look at what he is doing at HKR with some very average players and once they learn to defend for 80 mins they will become a threat to all teams in S/L.
One of the best attacking teams to watch

Watson is on a long term contract at Salford, Ward likes being in London and in any case is not a proven SL coach after only one year and Ford is happy in Union. What makes you think any of them would come to you?

First big money offer for Watson and he's out of Salford in a flash.