Rumours are that Brian Smith is set to be announced as the new Wakefield coach today! Probably a bit of a blow for the Championship clubs hoping that Wakefield would be heading into the middle 8's in a similar mess to their current situation.

Confirmed just now on Sky Sports 1.

Is it too late for Wakey or has he still got an adequate supply of magic dust. It would make a lot of sense if he had a young upcoming team to assist him. I expect him to improve things but not sure it will be enough....... I think Glen Morrison would fit in well there and a great opportunity for someone.

Am I the only one who thinks Brian Smith is Yesterdays man. It`s 20 years since he turned the Bulls around and then de-bunked to Oz where if you study his record he has not broken many pots. He once supposedly helped MacBanana at the Bulls and nothing significant came of it. I honestly hope Wakey aren`t getting too much in debt over his appointment because if they fall out of SL it could be a downward spiral.

He did get coach of year in NRL 5 years a go.



However looking at Wakey tonigt, it's going to take more than one man to turn the ship.

I think there is enough quality still at Wakefield for Brian Smith to keep them in SL. The odds are still stacked in favour of the club's currently in SL given the available spend and funding.



Sounds very much like a short term arrangement at this moment in time but even if he only Hdoes this season I'm sure he will implement some longer lasting structures at the club.



Wonder if Sammut will get a shot under Smith, perhaps a few Wire fringe players?

Strong odds I reckon of a few wire players going on loan. Wouldn't surprise me Gareth O'brien turning out for Wakey.

If there is a chance he's available then we should be trying to get him here given our makeshift options. We can't rely on Addy at 6/7 against SL opposition if we're serious about promotion.

Good appointment. The wasters in the wakey squad won't know what's hit them.

He's got a job on to turn Wakefield around. I don't know if the players knew about the Smith appointment, but if they did, it was a chance for them today to show their ability, and they've been beaten convincingly. I expect him to make big changes to their team because they have a lot of passengers at the moment.

I doubt they are in a position to make many changes and with the league being tight above Wakey there aren't likely to be that many loans offered, and any offered aren't likely to be available in middle eights. Maybe they could arrange some swap deals with players they want to move on. The other problem is can they keep those interested that are out of contract at end of season whilst not knowing which league they will be in. They could do with someone going into administration and signing up their players.

He'll need to be a magician to turn that lot around



I've got to say I'm going to be pretty peeved if we end with Gareth O'Brien playing against us in the Middle 8's after we let Warrington pull the plug on his deal to come to us

Smithy is innovative and technical Coach, a very good ideas man, but his problem (which never showed at his short stay at the Bulls) is that he likes to tinker and make Players play out of position but keep them there when it's not working and his Man Management style is abrasive, which will be good for Wakey at present, but not for a settled Squad. They need to get a good Assistant Coach in like Glenn Morrison to act as a buffer and he would also learn plenty.

Interesting times for Wakey and I doubt Smithy is doing it for the money but probably a big stay up bonus as part of his motivation.

If I recall correctly Fox left the club during the curtailed winter season of 1995. Smith took the job but sent Matty Elliot to sort out conditioning and recruitment for the start of the first SL season. In effect he wrote off the 1995 season and pretty much turned over the entire squad with a few notable exceptions. He got the three lads from Sts after the Newlove transfer and brought Donougher and probably the most under rated Aussie import in SL history, Bradley. Obviously he is a serious coach but Wakey is a very different job under very different conditions to 20 years ago.

Absolutely correct. The big difference is, then he had time to make his changes; i.e the curtailed winter season. If I recall only Karl and I think John Hamer from the old team survived and club was revolutionised. This time round he does not have the luxury of time. The other problem of course is now he has to work within the salary cap restrictions with salary money committed this season, so how much wriggle room has he got. All that said, Trinitys chances of survival just got that bit better. If I was a Trinity fan, I would be feeling a bit more optimistic this morning..

And someone called Brian McDermott?





I totally agree that from a Wakefiled point of view you would be happier today than yesterday. Their chances have improved.

Neil Summers too.

..and Paul Medley.

Robbie Paul

On Sky they were singing his praises about how he revolutionised the club.

I also recall Elliot coming over first and setting everything up regarding the team - of which he officially took over from Smith . We also had a gentleman called Mr Deakin who actually transformed the club off the field which allowed the coach to make a few signings later on.



We will see "bounce" as they say when he takes over but to keep it going will take more than a change of face. We will see just how good Brian is once the season is over and is judged on half a season not just the first few games. If he wins a couple Stevo and Eddie will be shouting how good he is. Lets wait till September.

If I heard them right, they credited Brian Smith with starting Bullmania, which is complete nonsense



But then that's nothing new for the Sky commentators