Sheffield

[gazza77]

So Keith Senior has now walked away after 10 years as assistant coach and two of the long-standing media team have also quit this week. Given the suspension of Tubby, is there a real problem at the club or is this just the sign of natural changes after a long period of stability?

https://www.totalrl.com/ex-leeds-rhinos-stalwart-keith-senior-announces-shock-exit-from-sheffield-eagles/

 

[RP London]

12 minutes ago, gazza77 said:

So Keith Senior has now walked away after 10 years as assistant coach and two of the long-standing media team have also quit this week. Given the suspension of Tubby, is there a real problem at the club or is this just the sign of natural changes after a long period of stability?

https://www.totalrl.com/ex-leeds-rhinos-stalwart-keith-senior-announces-shock-exit-from-sheffield-eagles/

 

Its hard to tell as we dont really know what the situation is with Mark Aston etc.. all you hear is speculation but nothing concrete in what he is accused of etc AFAIK and therefore its not easy to know what the long term situation is with him and therefore why, really, all these people are leaving. 

[Eddie]

It’s a strange one, without knowing the finer details it’s odd that they haven’t said what Aston is accused of. Regardless it’s a shame as Sheffield seem(ed) like a club on the up, on and off the field. 

Edited October 3 by Eddie

[Expatknight]

I know one man doesn't make a team and nor should they, but with Sheffield Eagles it is hard to imagine them without Mark Aston, I don't know if they would last long without his input sadly. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

[JM2010]

With all the talk about London being crucial for the game of RL I think we don’t talk enough about big cities such as Sheffield who are still expansion but close enough to be able recruit from the heartlands and have a competitive squad if they had the money at their disposal. 
I know it didn’t quite work out last time but if Sheffield could find some investment and put the time and money into the community game and infrastructure then they would be a great addition to the SL in future. 
 

Edited October 3 by JM2010

[Eddie]

20 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

With all the talk about London being crucial for the game of RL I think we don’t talk enough about big cities such as Sheffield who are still expansion but close enough to be able recruit from the heartlands and have a competitive squad if they had the money at their disposal. 
I know it didn’t quite work out last time but if Sheffield could find some investment and put the time and money into the community game and infrastructure then they would be a great addition to the SL in future. 
 

It didn’t work out last time because the powers that be decided to close the club down by ‘merging’ them with Huddersfield. 

[JM2010]

22 minutes ago, Eddie said:

It didn’t work out last time because the powers that be decided to close the club down by ‘merging’ them with Huddersfield. 

I know. They basically just became Huddersfield and had to restart. I think with some investment and good development work in the community game Sheffield could be a success. It’s a big city and has a big population to go at, especially if you include Barnsley and Rotherham. 

[Tommygilf]

I think there is an element of natural churn. 

The situation with Aston, which should be resolved ASAP with the RFL, has certainly affected the club. Stability has been difficult to establish and who really is pulling the strings in the Squad is a problem. Perhaps Senior's departure is pre-empting Aston's resolution?

There is also going to be a rationalisation IMO. The club spends decent money beyond what it otherwise could, and with the new stadium on the horizon perhaps investment will need to be more critically considered?

That squad should comfortably be able to get top 6 in the comp though. Underperformance in such spectacular style inevitably ends up in changes.

[Eddie]

I lived in Sheffield in the mid 90s and while it was and always will be a football city there was decent interest in the Eagles around the city and they had a visible presence in the local media. Such a shame it got thrown away, yet another RL own goal. 

[Griff]

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

It didn’t work out last time because the powers that be decided to close the club down by ‘merging’ them with Huddersfield. 

Just not true at all, Eddie.  The "powers that be" didn't insist.  It was purely a deal between Paul Thompson and Ken Davy.

[Eddie]

18 minutes ago, Griff said:

Just not true at all, Eddie.  The "powers that be" didn't insist.  It was purely a deal between Paul Thompson and Ken Davy.

So there was no SL pressure to merge teams then? 

[Griff]

Just now, Eddie said:

So there was no SL pressure to merge teams then? 

There was a proposal to reduce numbers.  That didn't amount to "pressure to merge" clubs.  It could have been achieved by other means.  There was a cash incentive.  But, in the end, Paul wanted out, Ken wanted to strengthen his squad.   Sadly, the combined squad was huge and most - if not all - the incentive went on paying off contracts.

[daz39]

2 minutes ago, Eddie said:

So there was no SL pressure to merge teams then? 

It was 'suggested' by the RFL at the time as a good idea to allieviate both clubs problems, Sheffield's financial one and Huddersfield's 'performances'.

Depending on which side of the fence a person sits on will determine what they're thoughts/beliefs on it are!.

[Griff]

12 minutes ago, daz39 said:

It was 'suggested' by the RFL at the time as a good idea to allieviate both clubs problems, Sheffield's financial one and Huddersfield's 'performances'.

Depending on which side of the fence a person sits on will determine what they're thoughts/beliefs on it are!.

Both sides of the fence were equally outraged, as I recall.

[daz39]

4 minutes ago, Griff said:

Both sides of the fence were equally outraged, as I recall.

Indeed, supporters of a certain West Yorkshire team still are...20 years on.

[Griff]

10 minutes ago, daz39 said:

Indeed, supporters of a certain West Yorkshire team still are...20 years on.

25 years ago this week, actually.

Anyway - doubt if that's anything to do with Keith leaving.

[Rene_Artois]

3 hours ago, JM2010 said:

I know. They basically just became Huddersfield and had to restart. I think with some investment and good development work in the community game Sheffield could be a success. It’s a big city and has a big population to go at, especially if you include Barnsley and Rotherham. 

Why would you include Barnsley and Rotherham? Maybe clubs from those areas are already involved with another club?

[JM2010]

5 minutes ago, Rene_Artois said:

Why would you include Barnsley and Rotherham? Maybe clubs from those areas are already involved with another club?

I’ve included them because there’s not many community clubs there at present and they are close to Sheffield and part of South Yorkshire. I was making the point that Sheffield has a big population and even bigger if you include neighbouring towns with no professional club. 

[RP London]

41 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

I’ve included them because there’s not many community clubs there at present and they are close to Sheffield and part of South Yorkshire. I was making the point that Sheffield has a big population and even bigger if you include neighbouring towns with no professional club. 

yep and you can go down the country too as they could tap into north derbyshire and north nottinghamshire. 

Sheffield has loads to offer but it does need money, there is more happening each year and it will hopefully bear some fruit but it needs time now. Fingers crossed this is just a changing of the guard after some long tenures and nothing more suspicious. 

[Dave W]

5 minutes ago, RP London said:

yep and you can go down the country too as they could tap into north derbyshire and north nottinghamshire. 

Sheffield has loads to offer but it does need money, there is more happening each year and it will hopefully bear some fruit but it needs time now. Fingers crossed this is just a changing of the guard after some long tenures and nothing more suspicious. 

This was part of the press release wording at the time of Aston's suspension:

"The RFL have launched an investigation into the Eagles concerning an undisclosed medical compliance matter. That has led to Aston and Heys being suspended by Sheffield with immediate effect.

In a statement, they said: “The Sheffield Eagles Board of Directors were recently made aware of an investigation by the Rugby Football League concerning a medical compliance matter which has resulted in the club, Head Coach Mark Aston and Physio Mick Heys being called to face an Operational Rules Tribunal"

You can read a lot between the lines here: It might be nothing, it might be more serious. Who knows?

But, it's been dragging on for three months now and, unfortunately,  the longer it drags on, the more suspicious it looks. I hope it gets resolved soon: It's certainly not done Eagles any favours - in the meantime they've plunged from play-off contenders to looking over their shoulders at relegation.

[JM2010]

14 minutes ago, RP London said:

yep and you can go down the country too as they could tap into north derbyshire and north nottinghamshire. 

Sheffield has loads to offer but it does need money, there is more happening each year and it will hopefully bear some fruit but it needs time now. Fingers crossed this is just a changing of the guard after some long tenures and nothing more suspicious. 

Are they doing some good development work in and around Sheffield?

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

3 minutes ago, Dave W said:

This was part of the press release wording at the time of Aston's suspension:

"The RFL have launched an investigation into the Eagles concerning an undisclosed medical compliance matter. That has led to Aston and Heys being suspended by Sheffield with immediate effect.

In a statement, they said: “The Sheffield Eagles Board of Directors were recently made aware of an investigation by the Rugby Football League concerning a medical compliance matter which has resulted in the club, Head Coach Mark Aston and Physio Mick Heys being called to face an Operational Rules Tribunal"

You can read a lot between the lines here: It might be nothing, it might be more serious. Who knows?

But, it's been dragging on for three months now and, unfortunately,  the longer it drags on, the more suspicious it looks. I hope it gets resolved soon: It's certainly not done Eagles any favours - in the meantime they've plunged from play-off contenders to looking over their shoulders at relegation.

The delay is to allow all sides to prepare thoroughly for the hearing. There's nothing suspicious going on at all.

[RP London]

9 minutes ago, Dave W said:

This was part of the press release wording at the time of Aston's suspension:

"The RFL have launched an investigation into the Eagles concerning an undisclosed medical compliance matter. That has led to Aston and Heys being suspended by Sheffield with immediate effect.

In a statement, they said: “The Sheffield Eagles Board of Directors were recently made aware of an investigation by the Rugby Football League concerning a medical compliance matter which has resulted in the club, Head Coach Mark Aston and Physio Mick Heys being called to face an Operational Rules Tribunal"

You can read a lot between the lines here: It might be nothing, it might be more serious. Who knows?

But, it's been dragging on for three months now and, unfortunately,  the longer it drags on, the more suspicious it looks. I hope it gets resolved soon: It's certainly not done Eagles any favours - in the meantime they've plunged from play-off contenders to looking over their shoulders at relegation.

yes that was the point of my first post on the thread. 

Medical matters may well take some time to investigate and get statements and "expert opinion" type things.. no one seems to know enough about it.

I bumped into Mick the other day near work, known him from years back when I played at Hillsborough and seen him in the gym etc but don't really know him well enough and didnt think it really appropriate to ask him about it.

[RP London]

11 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

Are they doing some good development work in and around Sheffield?

there seems to be growth in the foundation, wheelchair, LDRL and the womens side seem to be growing. Hillsborough look better than I've seen them for a while in terms of Juniors and there seems to be a bit more going on at Forgers. Its not an easy task but it does seem to be growing.

[JM2010]

Just now, RP London said:

there seems to be growth in the foundation, wheelchair, LDRL and the womens side seem to be growing. Hillsborough look better than I've seen them for a while in terms of Juniors and there seems to be a bit more going on at Forgers. Its not an easy task but it does seem to be growing.

That’s good to hear. It’s probably easier to develop juniors clubs in Sheffield than other expansion areas as they don’t have too far to travel for games. 
How many clubs are there in Sheffield and South Yorkshire?