Major Announcement at 12pm Today

[cram]

ABC 1233 is reporting that the Knights have issued a press conference notification for 12pm today.

The notice gives little information however, Craig Hamilton is speculating that the announcement is related to Smith's immediate departure.

 

[Johns Magic]

Maybe announcing next year's coach?

 

[AILD]

...or that they forfeit monday nights game....

 

[The_Joey_Show]

Announcing Rick Stone as coach for the next 2/3 years, for sure...

 

[IanG]

I just hope it's not another one of those anti-climax ones.

 

[cram]

Craig Hamilton indicated that his information was that the announcement would affect every player, so you would have to assume it's related to the coaching.

 

[cram]

I just hope it's not another one of those anti-climax ones.

I am thinking not because Jarrod Mullen was supposed to be on 1233 this morning for interview but was pulled by the Knights management.

This suggests the players probably know what's happening and they did not want the players letting the cat out of the bag to the media before the announcement.

 

[Smith Machine]

Greg Inglis signs with the Knights!

 

[Medievalknight]

Greg Inglis signs with the Knights!

:lol:

 

[Frederick]

Don't laugh, it's true! Not only are we signing Inglis, but we've also snagged Thurston, Hannant, Hayne, and managed to convince Wayne Bennett to cut short his contract to coach us for next year and the following 9 years.


However, to pay for these signings, we've had to cut our entire first grade squad, and promote our entire NYC squad

 

[Coastbloke]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ewcastle-knights/story-e6frexnr-1225761822469

Coach Brian Smith leaving Newcastle Knights

• By Phil Rothfield
• From: The Daily Telegraph
• August 15, 2009 9:38AM

• The Newcastle Knights are today expected to announce coach Brian Smith will leave the club, effective immediately.

The Knights have called a media conference for today where they will make a major announcement.
It follows an emergency board meeting last night where it is understood Rick Stone was anointed as the new head coach.

Stone is expected to take the reigns for Monday night’s clash against Melbourne.

More to come.

 

[cram]

So I wonder whether Stone's appointment is for the remainder of the season or for future years?

 

[roopy]

Well teams usually lift for a new coach, even if it's usually for just one game.
If we can win this game and our final home game we'll go close to falling over the line for the finals.

 

[Gene Krupa]

Two to three years of the wooden spoon! GO RICK!!!!

 

[keeney]

I hope this tenure is seen as a trial period, and the board doesn't leap into a decision. But I know they will.

 

[roopy]

signed for two years according to the telegraph.
I hope it's one year with a one year extention if we make the finals next year.

 

[Serc]

Yeah what happened to those sorts of contracts given Smithy copped that this year...though I guess they gave Smithy 2 years to start off with (or was it 3?) so that might be fair enough

Here's the link to listen to 1233 ABC Newcastle for anyone like me that lives a long way away!

http://www.abc.net.au/newcastle/rad...newcastle/onair/1233stream.asx&ramstream=null

 

[Serc]

Craig Hamilton just said he is sure that its Smith gone as of immediately and Stone for the next 2 years, and the players have been told as of 20 mins ago.

 

[Karmawave]

Smith is gone.

Ding Dong the witch is dead.

Brian Smith's Knights coaching career = FAIL. There's another ' fail ' for you Serc.

Hopefully Rick Stone can now get the lads to the semi finals.

 

[CycloneSteve]

But how poor is the timing? 2 days out from the game that will decide our 2009 future.