No surprises coming out of this article - Johns has had a massive say in the last few coaches we've appointed. More talking up of Sharp as the main man for the job ...
Good to see that the position should be filled by the start of this season, it will be good to have that distraction out of the way come round 1, and the boys can concentrate fully on winning every game!!!
Good to see that the position should be filled by the start of this season, it will be good to have that distraction out of the way come round 1, and the boys can concentrate fully on winning every game!!!
Newcastle coach needs Johns' approval
By Brent Read
January 18, 2006
Knight ... Peter Sharp is believed to be a frontrunner. Pic: Angelo Soulas
Andrew Johns is poised to play a key role in determining who will replace Michael Hagan as coach of the Knights at the end of the season.
NEWCASTLE talisman Andrew Johns is poised to play a key role in determining who will replace Michael Hagan as coach of the Knights at the end of the season.
However, Newcastle chief executive Ken Conway warned this week the successful candidate would require more than Johns' stamp of approval.
Conway's sobering message for prospective candidates came as speculation continued to pinpoint Parramatta assistant Peter Sharp as the man to replace Hagan, who was told late last week his contract would not be renewed at the end of 2006.
Sharp is considered the primary candidate due to his close association with Johns.
The former Northern Eagles mentor spent eight years in the Knights system, coaching Johns in the Jersey Flegg competition.
The Knights are also understood to be monitoring several NRL coaches who are off contract at the end of this season.
The man with the highest profile is Wests Tigers' Tim Sheens, who guided the Tigers to a maiden premiership last season and is yet to sign a new deal with the club. Sheens has won four grand finals (three with Canberra) from five appearances.
Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce is on holidays but is expected to continue talks with Sheens when he returns to work this week.
Parramatta coach Brian Smith, the man Hagan will replace, is also off contract but is not in Newcastle's plans.
Conway said the club had already been inundated with prospective coaches and would like to have Hagan's replacement named before the start of the 2006 season, which begins in mid-March.
"Ideally we would like that to happen," Conway said.
"If we have to wait three, four or five weeks for that to happen, we will. There has been tremendous interest."
Former Australia coach Chris Anderson, a premiership winner at the Bulldogs and Melbourne, is the most well-credentialled candidate without a club.
The wild-card could be Britain coach Brian Noble, who has made no secret of his desire to coach in the NRL.
Noble is the most successful coach in England, having led Bradford to a win in last year's Super League grand final.
"The first thing we're going to do is work out some objective criteria," Conway said.
"Our senior players will be consulted. It won't be a case of any particular player having a say. We're looking to put in place a rational process of selection so it's not someone's mate who ends up getting the job."
From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17855534-23214,00.html