GARY THORNTON SIGNS NEW DEAL UNTIL END OF 2025 SEASON

[HornyHornyHorneeet]

GARY THORNTON SIGNS NEW DEAL UNTIL END OF 2025 SEASON

 

Rochdale Hornets head coach Gary Thornton has agreed a new deal which will keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2025 season.

Thornton first arrived at the Crown Oil Arena as an assistant coach in December 2021 before stepping up as head coach on an interim basis in August 2022 following the departure of Matt Calland.

He was subsequently offered the position of head coach permanently, steering the Hornets to a seventh-placed finish in League One during his first full season in charge.

The Hornets have kicked on in 2024, winning eight of their opening 12 matches - including the last five in a row - to leave themselves third in the league table.

Discussing the new deal, Thornton said: “I’m really pleased to be staying, and to have the opportunity to build on the good things we’ve done over the past couple of seasons.

“We are growing and progressing as a club year after year. We have a great group of people running the club, led by Andy [Mazey], that are doing all they can to progress the club off the field, and I’m working really hard with the players to make sure we produce a good product on it.

“We have a very loyal support that is much appreciated and much needed, and a supporters association in All Hornets that works tirelessly with a group of fantastic volunteers.

"I think it’s a very bright future for Rochdale hornets, and it’s an honour to be a part of it. Together, we can move our club forward in the right direction.”

Rochdale Hornets chairman Andy Mazey said: “We are delighted to announce Gary's contract extension until at least the end of 2025.

“The chairman-head coach relationship is always an important one at any club, and since his appointment in August 2022, Gary has been a breath of fresh air for me personally. 

“He has completely transformed the culture at Rochdale Hornets and is a thoroughly decent bloke, as well as being a highly experienced and excellent coach. 

“Most importantly, he buys into the ethos of our club and is very honest and transparent in his approach. He understands where we are, and he shares the board’s ambition of where we want to be in terms of continued sustainable development on and off the field, year-on-year.”

[Brummie Hornet]

With the upward trajectory of the team and broader progress at the club this is good news. It provides stability for the players who based on recent performances are bought into the coaches plans

[glemiln]

Good news.

Win the next 4 games and Hornets will be closer to the bigger cake.  Promotion, even with the neighbours , would be great for the areas.  A reminder of Championship and League One, 2024-26 -

2024

The top six in the Betfred Championship will compete in a Play-Off series as in previous seasons, with additional prize money on offer for the winners of the Grand Final – which will be played on the weekend of October 19-20.

The team finishing top of Betfred League One will secure automatic promotion to the Championship, with the bottom two teams in the Championship relegated to League One.

Teams finishing second to sixth in League One will then compete in a Play-Off series, with the winners then facing the 12th-placed team in the final Championship table to determine the 10th position in the 2025 Championship.

Edited July 3 by glemiln

[Joe 90]

Great  News !

[Anita Bath]

Anyone know the format for the play off series…seems odd to have a 5 team play off. Possibly the convoluted 2 gets bye, 3 v 4 qualifying game, 5 v 6 eliminator, winner 5 v 6 plays loser of 3 v 4. winner of 3 v 4 plays 2 and so on. That will be a long play off route before having to play the second tier team who will be well rested. 

[Barley Mow]

22 hours ago, Anita Bath said:

Anyone know the format for the play off series…seems odd to have a 5 team play off. Possibly the convoluted 2 gets bye, 3 v 4 qualifying game, 5 v 6 eliminator, winner 5 v 6 plays loser of 3 v 4. winner of 3 v 4 plays 2 and so on. That will be a long play off route before having to play the second tier team who will be well rested. 

Same as the last few years I believe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFL_League_1#Structure

[Excolt 1]

On 03/07/2024 at 13:22, Anita Bath said:

Anyone know the format for the play off series…seems odd to have a 5 team play off. Possibly the convoluted 2 gets bye, 3 v 4 qualifying game, 5 v 6 eliminator, winner 5 v 6 plays loser of 3 v 4. winner of 3 v 4 plays 2 and so on. That will be a long play off route before having to play the second tier team who will be well rested. 

The Championship finished after League 1