As you’ll have no doubt seen by now, Hull KR boss Craig Sandercock has lost his job, with the club parting ways with their head coach with immediate effect.
Sandercock follows Brian Noble, Richard Agar, Francis Cummins and Tony Rea as the fifth Super League coach to lose their job in the 2014 season – totaling over a third of the division. Talk will now immediately turn as to who Sandercock’s replacement could be, and as is always the case with a top coaching job, there are a raft of candidates available to take over from the Australian. Here are five men that TotalRL.com believe could be in the mix to take over.
Chris Chester
Who: The current Hull KR assistant, who will take charge for at least this weekend’s visit of St Helens.
Why: British Rugby League clubs are not adverse to promoting from within, and Chester has served a decent apprenticeship under Sandercock. He could be the most logical step for the Robins to take.
Why Not: After Sandercock’s departure, the Robins may decide that a more experienced name is the best decision to take Hull KR forward.
Willie Poching
Who: Current Warrington Wolves assistant – who is due to leave the club at the end of the season as part of a coaching re-shuffle.
Why: Poching has been a coach for a lengthy period of time now, and is reportedly growing in stature and reputation as a young coach. A Super League head coaches job could be for him right now.
Why Not: Again, if the Rovers board decide that someone of Chris Chester’s experience isn’t the option, it seems Poching’s face may not fit, either.
Stanley Gene
Who: Gene is on the Hull KR coaching staff at the moment, as well as operating as the Gateshead head coach. A former Hull KR player, too.
Why: Fans often clamour for a former player – particularly one of Gene’s stature – to get the role as head coach one day, just as James Lowes has done with Bradford. He would be a popular appointment.
Why Not: The jump from Championship One may be a big leap for Gene to take; perhaps he would be best served coaching in the Championship before making the step up.
Glenn Morrison
Who: Former Super League player and current coach of impressive Championship outfit Dewsbury Rams.
Why: Has served his apprenticeship in the Championship with real distinction, and was surely in the mix to take over at Bradford before the appointment of James Lowes.
Why Not: His name is a real left-field one in this instance, and it would be a brave move to go for a Championship coach.
Francis Cummins
Who: Former Bradford Bulls coach, who did an excellent job in strained circumstances before losing his job with the club last month.
Why: Because he’s the smart, logical choice. Another Super League job surely beckons after his departure from the Bulls – where he worked under difficult conditions – and he would be a clever appointment. A good, young British coach.
Why Not: The only possible reason is if the Robins decide to go down the route they did with Sandercock and appoint an Australian. If an English coach gets the job, you would have to assume Cummins as favourite.
