Being an interim coach for most of a season under an inexperienced DOR, is a really tough gig. I remember James Webster trying to explain tactfully how little authority he had under Jamie Peacock, while not being disloyal to the club. In some ways you’re the fall guy.

Pearson will probably not want to front up to the press if he’s no longer going to be calling the shots. Myler will want to wait until his group definitely are, and avoid being tainted by this season as much as possible… if he’d wanted to be immediately answerable for team performances, he’d have taken the head coach role himself. Part of the attraction of that type of DOR role is being above all that, and his family are presumably paying for that privilege at least.

It's fair enough comment IMO. Given where we are I can't see why there's not a brutal, open articulation of what the issues are that he alludes to - financials, staffing, etc. It can't make the fanbase feel any worse and for some the context might be some mitigation. As it is we get conflicting comments about finances, cap spend, speculation on investment, obvious scrimping on back room staff, CEO that's not been replaced etc. You have to face the truth to be able to change things.

To be fair he’s been thrown under the bus unlike anything I ever remember I’m the SL era. He’s been given the worst squad of players in the history of the competition and had pretty bad luck with injuries.

I don’t always like his team selections, what he says, substitutions etc but on balance you’d have to say he’s done ok to get the 4 points he has with what’s been available. The farce with Reynolds leaving and not being replaced in any shape or form typifies what he’s had to deal with. It might be better for us long term, but Beaumont is absolutely spot on and we’ve wrote this season off about 2 months in and Grix has been the fall guy. I’d be angry if that had been done to me, it’s the blokes career and reputation.

I feel sorry for him in many ways. For me, the title of interim coach is a poisoned chalice at any club in any sport if it goes beyond a few games and the interim coach doesn't get the job permanently. Smith was sacked in April. Grix has had the job for five months now. It's far too long. Whilst I am looking forward to Cartwright coming in and believe that is the right appointment, I can't help but feel that this decision has had a knock on effect with the players when they know Grix isn't going to be in charge in the long run. It's undermined any attempt at authority Grix might have had once it became clear we were looking at someone else (same with Last back in 2020).

As he also says in the interview, there's things he can't say about what's going on at the club, things that we as fans aren't privy to. We're only seeing what's happening on the field mostly and that's been dire which generates criticism and he's had to front up to that and protect the players for the most part. As has been pointed out, he's been thrown under the bus because Pearson's been AWOL ever since Smith got sacked whilst any time Myler speaks it's very much focussed on next season and beyond.

So yeah, I do feel sorry for him in many ways. This certainly isn't all down to him. Doesn't mean that he's entirely without blame though either.

He probably shouldn't have taken the job, despite what he says, he could have turned it down, Cummins could have taken it or brought in someone short term.

I do have sympathy for him, and I certainly don't put much blame on him. I appreciate a lot of it has been out of his control. But leaders don't look for excuses and lament their luck like that. Had Gareth Ellis been given the interim job, could you see him giving an interview like that?

I don’t think they would have wanted to lose Cummins long term. Like you say should have been an external if they wanted to throw someone under the bus.

Feel sorry for the situation he was left in, but he has come across as negative at times.
Think he's been victim of a power vacuum at the club. Pearson outgoing and keeping his head down, Myler regime incoming and won't want to be associated with what has gone on before.

Expect the end of the season to be the time when announcements are made, and we see Myler more visible.

I see what you are saying about being defeatist but would the end result really be any different?

Do you honestly think that if we appointed Ellis for Saturday and he gave a real inspirational speech in the press conference that the end result would still be anything other the absolute hammering it’s going to be? The players just aren’t capable.

To be fair to Grix he did try and challenge the players and gave it the big un in the press conference before magic about do or die and all that (wrong move in my opinion with these players) and they still stunk the place out. FWIW I don’t think the players aren’t trying either or have given up, the only 17 we can ever field just seriously lacks organisers, experience and quality.

Will we see Trueman again? Personally thinks he's done for us and won't play again