: Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:07 pm  

rover49 wrote:

Bet he'd wished he'd styayed as Morgans assistant now, so much for loyalty eh, its all one way.

Correct.

He didn't stick around long after the club went into administration did he?

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:41 pm  

Pepe wrote:

Correct.

He didn't stick around long after the club went into administration did he?

He went back as soon as asked though, he obviously thinks well of the club.

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:54 pm  

rover49 wrote:

He went back as soon as asked though, he obviously thinks well of the club.

Or was offered more money?

Many of the senior players stuck with the club. Either way loyalty works both ways, and he couldn't get away fast enough. Didn't he accept a job at Barrow and then dump them when Hull KR came in?

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:29 pm  

Pepe wrote: Ste Mac was in his fourth year at Widnes. He had a new two year contract last year, so he was in his 2nd year of that. The performances we've seen so far have been diabolical to say the least. Given the players he has available, we should be putting in far better performances. If these constant and woeful displays continued, then we would hemorrhage support. The style of RL under Steve McCormack was simply awful. If sacking a coach after three seasons in charge is 'knee jerk' and not worthy of a franchise, then half of the current SL clubs shouldn't have got one either! l Really? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 545268.stm Why offer him a year contract if his job was going to be under threat from the very start?

Pepe wrote: Ste Mac was in his fourth year at Widnes. He had a new two year contract last year, so he was in his 2nd year of that. The performances we've seen so far have been diabolical to say the least. Given the players he has available, we should be putting in far better performances. If these constant and woeful displays continued, then we would hemorrhage support. The style of RL under Steve McCormack was simply awful. If sacking a coach after three seasons in charge is 'knee jerk' and not worthy of a franchise, then half of the current SL clubs shouldn't have got one either! l Really? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 545268.stm Why offer him a year contract if his job was going to be under threat from the very start?

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:32 pm  

Viva La Vikings!! wrote:

Not a bad NL coach. Nice person. Got us to 3 finals in 3 years. winning one of them. dont think he had what it takes to take us to superleague in a few years time.

All the best Ste Mac.

had the best squad in nl over the last 3 seasons, and alls he will be remember for is making good players into nobodies, killing the game of rugby league in widnes.

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:33 pm  

James Webster to take over?

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 6:42 pm  

LeythIg wrote: Really? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 545268.stm Why offer him a year contract if his job was going to be under threat from the very start? That was in early August and was an extension of his earlier contract. Therefore it was awarded during last season, as opposed to being awarded an extra year at the end of the last one. Since awarding him that contract things have gone from bad to worse. I assume the club had given him the chance to build a new squad during a proper closed season, in order to prove himself. He didn't have this last season, so there was always a ready made excuse for some awful performances. Given the performances during the friendlies were, to put it lightly, garbage and in our first competitive game, against lower league opposition, we were out played, I'd say it was the right decision. There would be little point delaying sacking him any longer. Given the previous three years, I'd say it was not before time. If the club had delayed any longer, it would make it harder for whoever is to take over. I think there maybe a little more to it too. There are rumours he'd lost the dressing room and even sent assistant coach Stanky out to bollock the players during the Oldham game. The fact is, the way the team has performed under him for the last 3 years have finally come home to roost. It could not be allowed to carry on, or we'd just start to lose any support we have left. The style of rugby was really that bad. You,as a Leigh fan, should know that. So it wasn't 'knee jerk', it's been coming for a while. They just made the mistake of giving him an excellent pre-season in Portugal and a big wedge of money, when they really should've released him at the end of last season and given the job to someone more capable. They've clearly seen their mistake and put it right as soon as possible.

LeythIg wrote: Really? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 545268.stm Why offer him a year contract if his job was going to be under threat from the very start? That was in early August and was an extension of his earlier contract. Therefore it was awarded during last season, as opposed to being awarded an extra year at the end of the last one. Since awarding him that contract things have gone from bad to worse. I assume the club had given him the chance to build a new squad during a proper closed season, in order to prove himself. He didn't have this last season, so there was always a ready made excuse for some awful performances. Given the performances during the friendlies were, to put it lightly, garbage and in our first competitive game, against lower league opposition, we were out played, I'd say it was the right decision. There would be little point delaying sacking him any longer. Given the previous three years, I'd say it was not before time. If the club had delayed any longer, it would make it harder for whoever is to take over. I think there maybe a little more to it too. There are rumours he'd lost the dressing room and even sent assistant coach Stanky out to bollock the players during the Oldham game. The fact is, the way the team has performed under him for the last 3 years have finally come home to roost. It could not be allowed to carry on, or we'd just start to lose any support we have left. The style of rugby was really that bad. You,as a Leigh fan, should know that. So it wasn't 'knee jerk', it's been coming for a while. They just made the mistake of giving him an excellent pre-season in Portugal and a big wedge of money, when they really should've released him at the end of last season and given the job to someone more capable. They've clearly seen their mistake and put it right as soon as possible.

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:32 pm  

Pepe wrote:

That was in early August and was an extension of his earlier contract. Therefore it was awarded during last season, as opposed to being awarded an extra year at the end of the last one. Since awarding him that contract things have gone from bad to worse. I assume the club had given him the chance to build a new squad during a proper closed season, in order to prove himself. He didn't have this last season, so there was always a ready made excuse for some awful performances. Given the performances during the friendlies were, to put it lightly, garbage and in our first competitive game, against lower league opposition, we were out played, I'd say it was the right decision. There would be little point delaying sacking him any longer. Given the previous three years, I'd say it was not before time. If the club had delayed any longer, it would make it harder for whoever is to take over.

I think there maybe a little more to it too. There are rumours he'd lost the dressing room and even sent assistant coach Stanky out to bollock the players during the Oldham game. The fact is, the way the team has performed under him for the last 3 years have finally come home to roost. It could not be allowed to carry on, or we'd just start to lose any support we have left. The style of rugby was really that bad. You,as a Leigh fan, should know that.

So it wasn't 'knee jerk', it's been coming for a while. They just made the mistake of giving him an excellent pre-season in Portugal and a big wedge of money, when they really should've released him at the end of last season and given the job to someone more capable. They've clearly seen their mistake and put it right as soon as possible.

Couldn't agree more.

He wasn't very popular with fans so much so that I was shocked that his contract was extended but as has been said he had done an OK job with a team made from scratch.

The Oldham game exposed some serious problems. We looked second best to a part time team from the division below and you couldn't just say they were playing badly. They didn't look big enough or fast enough to cope. This isn't acceptable when your playing full time wages and with the resources that we have in comparison.

Personally I think theres either somebody lined up or Steve O Connor realised that we would start to haemorrhage support. Season ticket sales are down about 10% and this could be to do with franchising and/or the credit crunch but it could also be down to Steve McCormick.

It was a good move before it got too late.

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:29 pm  

Nice guy but a loser when it really mattered. As illustrated by four successive GF defeats with 'Haven and Widnes.

Amazed he lasted so long after under-achieving with an outstanding squad of players at Widnes, frankly. After all Salford didn't keep him very long.

So, the Northern Rail Cup gave him his finest hour (2007 win) and worst moment in charge of Widnes...who says its a 'nothing' trophy ?

: Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:13 am  

-VIKINGMAN- wrote:

WTF you mentalist, pre season results havent been the best and we have been awful in certain games. Isnt it better to get rid now rather than half way through a season?

Saint Helens twice, which we won one of them. Haven which we won with a miss shape team and salford where we played most of the game with a very weak, young inexperienced team.

In a final on the day any one can win it and i believe that with the experience of the last 3 years Ste can get us to the final and win it.

Personally, i am gutted with todays news because Ste knows this division inside and out and thats what it will be about in the next 3 years. To keep him on and sack him after one game is ridiculous.

Good luck Ste, you have my respect where ever you end up.