Coach - Sean Long

[shrewsbury roughyed]

Sean Long gone, “ by mutual consent!” 

Edited November 11 by Bedford Roughyed

[clifford]

Has left the club by mutual consent.

 

New coaching to be announced shortly.

 

Might explain why no signings

[shrewsbury roughyed]

Possibly disagreement re signings /not signings. 

[Pigeon Lofter]

Ha!

He was always going to fix everything at the next training session....

[ChampagneCharlieReturns]

New coach is mike ford

[chiefgeneral]

1 minute ago, ChampagneCharlieReturns said:

New coach is mike ford

Interim or permanent?

[shrewsbury roughyed]

3 minutes ago, ChampagneCharlieReturns said:

New coach is mike ford

Seriously? 

[Bigred64]

Just now, shrewsbury roughyed said:

Seriously? 

Probably not! 

[shrewsbury roughyed]

https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/sport/25614180.sean-long-leaves-head-coach-roughyeds/
 

Oldham Times quick off the mark. No news re replacement or reasons for the change.

[m brooksy]

Think he did a good job in 2024 but it was obvious as this season went on that we just weren't performing at the standard we should have been.

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

9 minutes ago, ChampagneCharlieReturns said:

New coach is mike ford

I can't see it tbh. Longy going was on the cards for months. I think they were waiting till we knew whether we were in SL or not.

[bosman69]

2 minutes ago, m brooksy said:

Think he did a good job in 2024 but it was obvious as this season went on that we just weren't performing at the standard we should have been.

I agree. I would also add that with the squad we had in 2024 to not win the league would have been unthinkable. 

The poor performances in the 2nd half of 2025 and bad performances in all the big games sealed his fate for me.

Whomever we choose, hopefully they take the breaks off and we play a more open style of Rugby.

[Happyed]

Won a league and finished 4th in champ. What were they seriously expecting from him?

This is big set back and terrible start to a pre-season 

 

[Bigred64]

It could be if there's nobody lined up already to replace him. 

I think the board have out in hand though along with some decent signings. 

[chiefgeneral]

Who's available?

[Locutus]

Well i thank him for what he did at the club, generally did well. I felt the writing might have been on the wall for him after the play off defeat as too many big games ended with dreadful performances. Timing seems odd as surely it would have been better to pull the trigger as soon as the season finished to help with recruitment,getting everything settled. I hope the recruitment process is ambitious. 

[Bedford Roughyed]

I have merged the 2 threads.

[Happyed]

Has Wardle gone too?

[Pigeon Lofter]

3 minutes ago, Happyed said:

What were they seriously expecting from him?

Something far better than that 40-4 capitulation at the end of the season, clearly.

Some of those results were almost fortuituous (Sheffield, Doncaster and Widnes come to mind), not what would be expected with a line up of ex-SL players brought in to dominate opponents. Oldham flattered to decieve in the second half of the season, and hung on for dear life several times over.

With London looking favourites for 2026, would BQ really want another season like the last one, particularly as he has to get his hand down again and pay top dollar for new signings?

I'm surprised Long wasn't given the boot after the Halifax game.

[jroyales]

I'd like to tank Sean for bringing a sparkle back to our club.

Can't argue with the comments about the big game losses and near loss wins but he was why most of the signing came to us in the first place.

All the best Sean with whatever you do next in your coaching career.

[shrewsbury roughyed]

I’m certain his mistakes were honest ones and in interviews, podcasts etc he proved to be a decent and committed bloke. I think the time is right though and as has been said it seems Kate in the day with training about to start and recruitment apparently behind schedule.

[sheddingswasus]

39 minutes ago, Happyed said:

Has Wardle gone too?

Wardle is also coach to the pathway I think. 

[tub]

Honest bloke but his rugby was too conservative ....seemed to be always worried about preventing a loss rather than looking for the win ....maybe because of the way he left Fev. 

Lets hope the next coach encourages fast and entertaining rugby  as we need to improve attendances. 

 

Edited November 11 by tub

[wozzeryedhead]

Probably no news on signings because the new fella might want his say on signings 

[LittleboroRoughyed]

It seems we’re in a bit of a surprise crisis, to most supporters anyway, no coach, way behind on recruitment & pre-season training about to begin.

Strange timing of the announcement, not sure what coaches are available but surely BQ & MF have someone lined up & need to announce new coach & players urgently to get momentum going.

It’s certainly not the offseason I was expecting & with the potential fixture format for next season we could be in for a difficult 2026.