NCR - new coach wanted

Grant Hastings resigned on Saturday, the search is on for a replacement.

Thats a laugh

Mark Foster?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Bill Robertson. He's already employed by the club anyway, is the assistant coach and coached Maycenvale to promotion to the Central League [I think], has FIFA coaching badges. Plenty of options running around the club and HB to be his assistant while he is player/coach.

I think Chris was coach when they got promotion! Bill not up to it they are going to have to get someone from outside the area as there is no one local good enough! Shouldn't have a player/coach at that level. Does he work for the club or Grant, like the rest of the team?  Not really sure how they can not keep him on when he has brought the most success in over 10 years.

No I think I'm right unless someone can confirm I've got my years wrong, the injury/gone home scenario actually happened. I'd have no problem with a player/coach, totally dependent on the person isn't it? and how they can handle things. I don't know about the bulk of players working for Grant, wouldn't have thought he'd have enough work to employ too many people. Bill definitely works for NCR in delivering football coaching to schools, holiday programmes etc. I've worked with some NCR players and they were getting paid $100 or so a week from the club, just for playing in the first team, no other obligations except to turn up for training, play games and the occassional club function. I was quite surprised on 2 counts, 1 that they were still paying run of the mill players at this level and 2; that the amount wasn't much more than I was getting in the late 70s.

I would have thought most of the bigger clubs pay players a match fee at that level, which is a joke as the majority of them aren't good enough to be paid. In the 70's you would have got a crowd to the games, I remember early 90's they got good crowds most weekends and bar takings were high, not like now.  Didn't Grant initially set up the coaching in schools for the club that might be where i'm confused? I know he has his own business coaching sports in school and personally employs a number of players through that. I thought Bill was Matt Chandlers assistant for a season at the MIGHT maycenvale then moved to NCR when Chandler took over HBU. CG got promotion and took first season in central league the got HB job. 

Anyway no one in the bay I would want taking the job.

There is talk of Dion Adams being in the mix but I personally don't rate him. In terms of other coaches floating around in HB, I think you're right although, at a pinch, there are a few ex NCR coaches still at the club and could step into the breech if required I suppose. Saw an article the other day saying they've had interest from overseas and around the country but were crying poor and said they couldn't afford to pay anyone anything decent. Can't imagine they're any different than most teams/clubs around the country. Just thought that maybe Chris McIvor might be a candidate, he's coaching at Taradale now isn't he?

Shame Brett Angel can't put his hand up.

Don't think McIvor would want it he seems to wana play with mates, Brett would good but not likely with his job. Who is it going to be Roy of the Rovers Stanger, Terry Parkin assistant and Malcom Wilson as Manager.

Would Perry Cotton the Hb united assistant coach be up to it?

Few things. To suggest Bill Robertson isn't up to it is complete nonsense. Dion Adams has actually done a very good job with the HBU youth team there and is progressing as a young coach and yes, Perry Cotton is up to it.

Think Perry would be good. Dion needs to decided whether he wants to play or coach, would not say HBU longball is progress. Not convinced on Bill at all.

to be fear to him the club was an embarrassment before he took over! He seemed to be thrown in at the deep end.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11149328

can only shake my head at this appointment think the club had been doing everything right over the last 3 or 4 years, to me this is a backwards step! interesting that he says he was "approached" by the club. Matt Hastings for assistant, Malcolm Wilson for manager...

You heard it here first "balls my word"

You are correct.

Bill was head coach for the majority of the season until he left for the UK on a planned trip just before the playoffs when CG who was playing had got injured and stepped in to hold down the fort and helped Maycenvale qualify. 

I think they should have kept Grant, from what I have heard the applicant's were pretty poor!!! I don't think he has enough experience as a coach to work at that level, he only really been assistant "assistant" apart from his short time at vale. appointing an inexperianced coach is what they are doing wrong.  

Well Hastings resigned didn't he? Yes, they advertised his job and he felt he needed to resign, but thats not an unsual thing to do these days (test the market). You're also forgetting that Hastings himself came from Maycenvale so he was less experienced at the time than what Robertson is now. Personally I think its a good appointment.

Hastings had won the league with Maycenvale a number of times, prior to that had worked up in waikato coaching in a number of different positions! how much mens coaching has Robertson done? Pretty sure he wouldn't have anywhere near as much expeance as Grant when he took over. I beleave there is more to it then them advertising and Grant resigning! 

Then what is it? 

Word I hear is that he probably would have been reappointed. Even Steve Hansen has to reapply for his job.

Hastings never coached Maycenvale to promotion to the Central League, the difference in their experience at the time of being appointed to the Rovers job is so small that its not a factor really is it?

I suspect there might be something else behind your opposition.

Word I hear is that he would had been reappointed then they made him reapply! Hastings won the league with Maycenvale a couple of times I never said he got promotion! Robertson has how much experience coaching men??? Compared to at least 10 years that Hastings has! It worries me because the last time someone (Chris Shackshaft) do you know him? was appointed with little experience it was a bit of a disaster for the club had a very poor season! I can see that happening again! Thats why I have the option I do.  

Without dragging this out, its a bit of a baseless fear. You're basing your opinion on the fact that a previous rookie coach didn't turn out great. I don't know if you've ever seen Robertson play or coach, but he has "coaching material" stamped all over him. On the reapply for your job front, you could argue that if you are happy with your coach - why ask him to reapply? My view is that you shouldn't but many do and it is now common practise. I'd also heard things weren't too happy in the dressing room, My observation from afar was that GH was a bit of a strange one, but that doesn't mean he's a bad coach. I'm looking forward to see how it pans out simply for the fact that HB needs CityRovers to be strong, they are really the only game in town outside of HBU.

Ok fear enough thats my opinion. I think he would have reapplied if he hadn't already been told he was likely to have the job again. I have seen  him play a number of time, he is a bit of a leader on the field and can head the ball... I think GH doesn't tend to take any shit and if you didn't want to play his way then he didn't want you, apparently very well organised and good tactically.

It just think more experience is required. I'm interested to see how the cross over between national league and central league works out as he will be coaching NCR and training with HBU on the same night at the same time! 

I'm of the same opinion as you Rover need to be strong, I could take or leave HBU (rovers in disguise) but thats a whole other story. 

When does pre season start? any word of any signings yet?

I'll pop down the corridor and ask.....

Very unsuccessful visit. No news except that the prems start training next week.... sorry....

do you know who is taking the prem team by any chance, unusual that the prem's start before the first team...

sorry think it might be matt hastings but can't be sure

How are we looking people? has billy got his 16 man squad together for training yet? only player that I heard has been training with prems from expected central league squad is big Josh Stevenson! who are the other 15?