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Saints Begin Search For New Coach

Broncodroid

Juniors
Messages
2,313
Sportlife.com said:
SAINTS BEGIN SEARCH FOR NEW COACH
Sportlife.com said:
St Helens could appoint a new head coach "within days" after pressing ahead with the dismissal of Ian Millward.

The departure of Millward, for what the club call gross misconduct, was confirmed in a 1,200-word statement issued by chairman Eamonn McManus following the completion of an internal disciplinary hearing.

Millward, suspended since last Tuesday, has already lodged an appeal with Saints which is expected to take place before the end of the week and, unless he is able to overturn the decision, a successor could be named as soon as next week.

"The only good thing to come out of all this is that because of the high-profile nature of the case, I've had six or seven unsolicited approaches from top-class coaches around the world," said McManus.

"Legally, I can now start to talk to them, although there is the appeal which will take a couple of days, and I'm going to do that right away. I hope to make a decision within a few days."

Former Australia Test coach Chris Anderson, who is out of work following his departure from Welsh rugby union club Gwent Dragons, and New Zealand boss Daniel Anderson have already signalled their interest in the job.

Whoever takes over from Millward, who guided Saints to five major trophies in five seasons, will inherit a team in second place in the engage Super League, just two points behind champions Leeds, and on course to defend their Powergen Challenge Cup.

The new man will have a hard act to follow but McManus has cast doubt on Millward's recent achievements.

"I'm not going to knock Ian's record as a coach but he inherited a very successful team and has had some great players to work with," said McManus.

"Let's get a sense of perspective. We finished fourth two years ago and sixth last year which was our worst-ever finish. The Challenge Cup success masked what was an awful year."

Millward, who was just halfway through a five-year contract, was sacked essentially for verbally abusing Warrington press officer Gina Coldrick, swearing at a Rugby League official during an Easter Monday match and haranguing St Helens media officer Alex Turner.

The club say they are also investigating other, potentially more serious, allegations of misconduct and admit that Millward's relationship with chief executive Sean McGuire had broken down irretrievably.

The beginning of the end can be traced back to the sale of Great Britain centre Martin Gleeson last July, just a month after the player was banned for his part in the infamous betting scandal.

The Australian made it clear he was opposed to the transfer, which he claimed was made behind his back, and pointed the finger at McGuire.

McManus accused Millward of distorting the truth and claimed his attitude made his continued employment impractical.

"The three charges were each serious in their own right but when added together, in our view, portray a pattern of behaviour of a person who is unwilling or unable to comply with his ambassadorial duties as head coach," said McManus.

"In addition to these three matters, albeit unconnected with the disciplinary proceedings relating to Ian's dismissal, Saints' name has not been helped by Ian Millward's position over the Martin Gleeson transfer.

"Ian was informed of the offer for Martin Gleeson one week before his actual transfer. He understood our decision and confirmed that he would support it.

"When I then went away on holiday, Ian blamed the decision to transfer Martin Gleeson on the chief executive Sean McGuire and has publicly and repeatedly stated that he was not informed, when he most certainly was. This again was most damaging and wholly unfair to the club's management.

"It is beyond doubt that the trust and confidence between the club's principal officers and Ian has now irreparably broken down."

Meanwhile, assistant coach Dave Rotheram will continue to prepare the team for Friday's game against Hull at the KC Stadium, where St Helens have lost on all three previous visits.

McManus will be bracing himself for another protest but is confident both the club's coaching staff and players can maintain their focus.

"One man who deserves a lot of praise is Dave Rotheram," said the chairman. "He has been brilliant throughout. The coaching staff have been motivated and Dave says he has never seen the players train as well."

Whilst it is obvious the St Helens powers to be have no clue, I would hope they are smart enough to realise hiring Chris "my way or the high way" Anderson is asking for trouble. Anderson's 'flat style' of attack is outdated in the modern game and it can take players a while to adjust. Case in point: the Cronulla Sharks.

Daniel Anderson on the other hand is a coach who I have the upmost respect and the sooner he is coaching week in week out in Rugby League, the better for not only NZ Rugby League, but better for the club smart enough to sign him.

Daniel Anderson played a major part in turning the NZ Warriors into the powerhouse they were in 2002 and 2003 in which he ended up IMO being pushed out the door early in 2004 by another "no idea" board.

Interesting times for St Helens fans...
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
I'd prefer to have Daniel Anderson over Chris Anderson if it were my club.

But I get the feeling something weird went down internally when/as/beofre Daniel left NZ Warriors - various players also left or dropped badly in form. We'll never know exactly what it was I guess..
 

Paul-The-Cowboy

Juniors
Messages
557
If Daniel Anderson comes then that could possibly be Vinnie gone, I reckon!

Still, I'd also rather have him over Chris Anderson, who is possibly one of the most over-rated coaches about over here. He'd destroy our club. A lot of Saints fans have bagged Daniel and stated they would rather have Chris, which has surprised me. Chris Anderson destroyed a decent Cronulla club inherited from Lang, and Raper has done a great job to repair the damage IMO. Anderson meanwhile turned around the Warriors fortunes, had them playing good football and had 2 very good seasons, before a disappointing 2004. Again, in my opinion

Ideally, I'd rather this situation had never happened and we weren't taking this "gamble". But Millward obviously is not going to win his appeal and get reinstated. Johnny Sharp/Shane McNally would both be two other OK replacements.

Though I have a feeling the board are going to pull something out of the bag here and shock us all, ala the Gleeson-Lyon scenario. Or maybe I'm just an optimist :)

Just have to wait and see. Interesting times indeed
 

Matt M

Juniors
Messages
707
Daniel Anderson is a great coach, but he seems to be quite happy in his role with the NZRL right now.
 

Paul-The-Cowboy

Juniors
Messages
557
My source has confirmed that it's nearly certain that it will be Daniel Anderson. He's usually pretty reliable as well to be fair.
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
Daniel Anderson's current role with NZRL ends in March next year I think, with no hope of extension (they've said they'll be looking for a Kiwi).

So he'd probably be looking to his future options right about now... And I suspect St Helens management wouldn't have taken things this far without having sounded out potential replacements?
 

Spike

First Grade
Messages
7,115
Mr Annnderson :| ..........of the D variety "should" be named as St Helens new coach Tuesday evening our time. Just a feeling I have
 

playdaball

Bench
Messages
3,525
Daniel and Vinnie are close. Vinnie's 'problem' was with the CEO, Mick Watson. MANY considered Vinnie to be a DA 'pet'.
 

Iafeta

Referee
Messages
24,357
Vinnie Anderson is a Daniel Anderson favourite.

Rest assured there are no dramas there whatsoever.

Whats also come out is that the Warriors paid Daniel Anderson $400,000 to leave the club and it wasn't an ammicable resignation as previously the club bullsh!t to its fans.

Some comments though from Tawera Nikau suggest to me though that the rumours regarding his relationship with Stacey Jones are spot on. Its rather disappointing.

This from nzherald.co.nz. I don't know if its a media gaffe from Nikau to glaze into the Jones/Anderson cover up, but all of a sudden I felt cheated by both Stacey and Daniel.

...

It is probably too soon for Nikau to take the top job, considering he has been a Bartercard Cup coach with the Waicoa Bay Stallions for only the past two seasons.

But he has assembled a top team to come on board with him should he become Kiwis coach.

This includes Chris Anderson and Kevin Tamati as his assistants, and Terry Hermansson and Tea Ropati acting as mentors.

"I've also spoken to a couple of prominent players and they're looking to come out of international retirement too," Nikau said.

Although he wouldn't name names, he said "it doesn't take a genius to work out who it is going to be" and "it would be a good way for him (Stacey Jones) to go out. Whether it happens or not is up to him, although I'm not saying it's him.

"I definitely want the job and I think I have the right credentials. The Kiwis have struggled over the last few years under Daniel Anderson and I think he should've gone by now.

"It's about time the board stood up and really took some notice of what needs to be done.

"They could go down the same track with them (McClennan and Leuluai) but do we nominate these guys because Daniel says so?"

Nikau is expected to meet with the board about his proposal this week, although it will surely take a great deal of persuading to change their minds over McClennan and Leuluai.
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
Interesting Iafeta. I'm not sure we'll ever get to the bottom of exactly what happened at the NZ Warriors around that time?
 

Iafeta

Referee
Messages
24,357
I'm waiting for someone to publish a no holds barred tell all book.

I don't think its Stacey's go to do that, he's a quiet, reserved man.

Mick Watson is quite outgoing, I'd suspect if he ever got the punt he'd be on the cards to do a tell all book on it all.
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
Yeah, Watson may hold the key to a lot of info, and seems the type that might eventually come out with it...
 
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