By Andy Brown
May 23 2008

With no inkling of what the thinking is behind the closed doors at Headingley, I decided to embark on a journey of total speculation about the incoming DoR. Who are the candidates? What is the likelihood of each candidate landing the job? I present here for your delectation, a list of the potential men to take Leeds to a future of rugby union dominance in England...

1. Daryl Powell

Whether he is rated as a coach by the fans is of no consequence, what matters is whether he's rated as a coach by players and potential players. Unfortunately, we have no information here, and can only speculate. I place him as favourite for the job, simply because he's there already, knows the setup, the current group of players and will have been involved in the incoming player selection. He has had experience of the top job in Rugby League, which is, of course, his first love, and indeed knows the pressure that he can expect from a demanding employer such as Gary Hetherington.
Evens

2. Ben Ryan

Former Newbury head coach and currently overseeing the England Sevens squad, where Tom Biggs has recently been selected for the Twickenham Sevens at the weekend (coincidence?). Widely regarded in England as a top coach, and no doubt has the respect of the pro-rugby community, appointing Ben Ryan would be a signal that Leeds means business. The downside is that he has no experience of Premiership rugby management, and this could prove crucial.
4-1

3. Lyn Jones

Recently let go by the Ospreys under slightly mystifying circumstances, there's no doubt about the man's coaching pedigree, having built the Ospreys squad since their inception. Another one that would command the respect of the players, and the first of many Welshmen on this list. However, are Leeds big enough in ambition for him? Come to that, is he a big enough name for Leeds?
20-1

4. Jon Callard

The odds on Callard's return to Headingley have, in my view, receded somewhat in his call-up to act as kicking and attacking coach to the England squad for the Summer tour to New Zealand. The man has pedigree and is a favourite with many Leeds fans, who cite that his arrival at Headingley coincided with the period of history in which Leeds played their best attacking rugby. Experience (good and bad) of the Premiership, and a top name to attract class players to the club. One to watch.
25-1

5. Neil Back

Neil Back is increasingly being mentioned on the message board, with, to my knowledge, not much evidence to back it. It is rumoured he's looking for a head role and would be a massively high profile appointment if he could be persuaded to make the move from the East Midlands. Downsides are two-fold: no experience of coaching at the top level, although that is somewhat mitigated by his extensive experience on the playing side. The second downside is that he is a Tiger, and if they were to come calling for him, would anyone seriously doubt he'd be off back down the M1?
100-1

Additional 26/06/2008: It's looking increasingly likely that Backy is now our man. Those 100-1 odds look very generous! However there is a correction to be made in the above section: Back has plenty of coaching experience at the top level (he's Leicester's defence coach for 2007/8), but not as a DoR.

6. Lyn Howells

The second Welshman in my list, Lyn has just settled into the role at Doncaster after Clive Griffiths' swift exit to Worcester at the beginning of last season. Donny would not be pleased to lose another DoR so quickly, and the inference of the press suggests that Howells is in it for the longer term with Donny. His experience with Borders being pulled from under his feet can't have been a happy one, and it is likely he'll want to put some roots down at a club he thinks can go places.
100-1

And the rest …

7. Andre Bester

Rumoured already to have turned the job down (without it having been offered!), Andre Bester was at one stage the favourite, but now moves down to seventh in the list. A reputation for "my way or the highway" coaching, he will at least know some of the imcumbent players in Leeds (Bedford, Lund, Hopcroft, Fourie etc) after his successful spell with Rotherham. Not a favourite of some of the regular posters on TykesRugby, who would prefer to see a backs-oriented coach come in.
200-1

8. Phil Davies

Last Welshman on the list, and one we all know well. Phil Davies will always be a part of the Leeds heritage, having brought the club up from literally nowhere to the Premiership during his previous tenure. However a disasterous final season saw him move to Scarlets, but he is now out of work again. Although apparently able to attract top quality players, his man management skills has come into question. A backward step.
250-1

9. Eddie O'Sullivan

Another someone out of a job at the moment, although strongly rumoured, and therefore favourite, to take over the vacant job at Thomand park. Moving to England and coaching in the Premiership will be something completely outside his experience, and our Irish correspondents have expressed their fervent views about his abilities for the national team. A non-starter.
500-1

10. Jake White

World cup winner. Widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the world. Was hotly tipped for the England job before Johnno got it, and press innuendo suggested it was the only job he actively wanted. He is definitely not in a hurry to sign up anywhere else, and I think if he were to come to Leeds, we really would have scored a major coup - somewhat akin to Justin Marshall's signing in 2006/7. It just ain't gonna happen!
2000-1

11. The Carnegie Challenger

By far the most likely option. This clown has regularly been boo-ed and castigated by the crowd at Headingley. With little or no knowledge of how fans think never mind how players do, and with the motivational skills of a dead badger, the Challenger could be the thing that kills the club off completely.
Dead Cert!