I was there.

Good post and fair observation.

Although I think it's imperative we employ as many British coaches as possible, IMO clubs all to easily give the job to a less experienced coach (Jimmy Lowes is a classic example) and when results don't go their way the board seem to scratch thier heads and wonder why. A player can win everything as a player, be a fantastic talent and a great persona to have around the club, however it's not often that this transpires into his coaching.

A player's coaching style is highly dependable on how he was coached as a player, expansive or one up? Keep it safe or employ risky plays? Wire, Wigan and Bradford play similar RL as jonh as already pointed out neither side are lavishing in success, and none are playing particularly well, despite the talent the team's in question has at thier exposal.

As I've stated, I'm all for British coaches but only when they are actually ready for it, it's all too often, in all sports not just RL, a player turns coach and is expected to work magic because of his higly successful career, and when he inevitably get's the sack he is never seen again.

I personally think that a coach should serve with at least 2 clubs in the UK and maybe 1 in Australia prior to even being considered a realistic candidate for a headship.

As you know I've advocated for years now that we should send our better young players on a years scholarship to Australia.

Maybe we should do the same with our reserve team / academy coaches.

Any thoughts?

Quite a few do head over under there own steam as a bit of a working holiday type do but i would like to see it be more formal.

Nigel Wright spent some seriuous time over there and he says it was the best developmental experience of his life regards coaching.

To be fair i do not think Australia is a must as such, apart from it exposes someone to a different environment.

Ideally I would like to see a coach work under a minimum of 3 SL coaches and spend sometime (a minimum of 2 seasons) in the lower leagues where actuall "coaching" of players has to be done. You are a product of your environment and I think exsposure to different environments and situations can only round off the end product.

I have said on a few times i dislike the way so few British coaches get the sack and that is them gone usually from a SL job again, its very rare that they make a comeback. A good coach may fail at a club, but if they learn from it and where they made mistakes it can be the best thing for there personal development, often sadly they never get a chance to prove it.

1 thing is certain in coaching, the minute you take a paid job the clock starts ticking to you being given your P45, very very rarely does a coach not get sacked at any level, how you deal with this and what you take from it is crucial but all too often they are cast out as lepers almost with no chance of a return.

Agree 100%, I was having the exact same conversation with a mate over the weekend. Too many top jobs come around and are given to people that haven't served their time. Being an understudy to different coaches is a must, you see different styles, learn what works, how players react etc, etc, etc....