Our club is being relaunched this week.The mounting frisson of excitement is becoming unbearable as we wonder if we can become anymore unpopular within the county. Oh and there is the small matter of who is going to coach the club. Not many names are in the frame as I think that word has gotten round that the club do not pay very well and that coaches do not stay very long....
Despite this we have got a relatively settled squad. We kept most of the players we wanted to keep - Tussac being a notable exception. Old heads Jones and Tidswell arrived to bolster the pack and we have two fly halves. So when the club is relaunched tomorrow there is just one piece missing from the jigsaw...the coach!
I am not sure how much interest there has been in the post but I hope that Tommy McGee has applied. His input over the last 18 months has been integral to the improvements that the pack has made. Andre Snyman, antother ex-player, is on many people's wishlist. This week we hear that Alan Tait , a former Rhino, Lion and Scottish international has applied for the job. I am sure that GH will be looking at who "ticks all the boxes" like Diccon did. I also hope that he looks for a coach who might stay for more than a couple of seasons. For me continuity is something that seems to elude us when we select a new coach.
The timing of Lowes' departure has meant that pre-season training has started without his successor being in place. This could be overcome by appointing from within the club. Whoever gets the job will need to hit the ground running.
So whatever is unveiled at the launch tomorrow I will not start getting excited until the new coach is named. Call the club what you like & play in a flashy new kit. The only thing that matters is getting the right coach, i.e. one who will get us promoted. I am holding my breath!
Totally agree WW. For all his positive qualities I never felt that Lowes was the right man for the job because of his lack of experience in Union. I think getting this appointment right is absolutely critical and if the ambition really is to get back into the premiership then Yorkshire Carnegie's first coach MUST be premiership quality.
I think that J-Lo will be a hard act to follow. Whilst his scrum and lineout skills were erm... unproven, his man management and motivational skills were top drawer.
Given the uncertainty at the club, motivating the players - many of whom have signed because they live the J-Lo attacking style - will be the first challenge.
I spoke to a number of players at Headingley yesterday. Every one of them had nothing but praise for JL, some saying he was the best coach they had ever worked with.
Regardless of his background, he will be a hard act to follow.
The new logo looks good.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
I think the attacking style will still be ingrained in the players. couldnt agree more about the next coach, so important we get the right one who will stay for a good few years
Not sure new coach MUST be Premiership quality Time Trial. I would prefer someone who is astutue with youthful enthusiasm, thinks outside the box, and has a drive to do well without massive resource. Rob Baxter is just that sort of person at Exeter. Someone similar would do nicely.
As an outsider I'm just wondering why it says, under the Club/About Yorkshire Carnegie section, "The name of the club will remain as Leeds Carnegie RUFC."
Are you Leeds Carnegie or Yorkshire Carnegie ? (tho' to me you'll always be known as Leeds!)
New website looks good. The debate about it is over and we need to commit to it and back it, so I would not normally buy a season ticket but will do so this season. I like the badge so will also but a shirt or two this season, as when people in Scotland ask me what nationality I am I say a Yorkshireman. Good luck Ian and the team.
EverOptimistic - you may find that only the cover page of the wbsite has changed. Most of the content still pertains to Leeds Carnegie.
I'm still unsure as to whether we are a new club or Leeds Carnegie renamed. I was under the impression that we were a new, debt-free club but I can't see this written anywhere.
Shirt looks ok, great that ticket prices held again. Pleasantly surprised that there seem to be serious talks with potential investors but sounds like there's a way to go yet.
If I had all the money I've spent on drink ..... I'd spend it on drink.
Like the new shirts (blue with white shorts would be my choice for the home colour, all white away) and like that they're made by Kooga.
Happy that entrance and season ticket prices have stayed the same.
The website and logo look good.
Im not against the name change either.
I think you can tell more from what wasn't presented today though.
No head coach (although I never expected one today and am glad they arent rushing it).
and, worringly, no shirt sponsor, indicating that the expected (by Geech anyway) rush of sponsors from around the county hasnt happened - yet.
In summary - the cosmetic stuff is all very nice but the really important issues remain as yet unanswered.
Hopefully, now the launch is out of the way, the sponsors will start to appear.
I'd use a nervous smiley at this point but they dont appear to be working!
Oh, and one other thing - if we're going to operate with a 35 man squad then that means there's one new signing to come as there are currently 34 listed on the site.
On behalf of the mods, we'll change the images and the like at the top of the forum very soon - just need to get our hands on some pictures we can play about to fit and all that malarkey.
Must admit My first impression was that it was someone at Sale Sharks that designed this one. Sorry a bit non descript for me. Of the two options the white and white for me.
North needs success Not sure new coach MUST be Premiership quality Time Trial. I would prefer someone who is astutue with youthful enthusiasm, thinks outside the box, and has a drive to do well without massive resource. Rob Baxter is just that sort of person at Exeter. Someone similar would do nicely.
I disagree completely. I'd trade some of the flare for a good winning record and that can be best achieved by someone who has been there and done that. We were found wanting at crucial points of the important games and I want someone who knows how to deal with that. We need to balance a young side with an old head
Kit ok - at least it is the county colours. Hope they get some good stash in the club shop, but ive been hoping for years now.
Logo ok.
Name - don't like, it never did. Why Carnegie? Hasn't the sponsorship from the Uni ran out yet?
Agree with other posters - The issue is what wasn't mentioned...Lots of sound bites, 'making progress, on going discussions, short lists, etc etc' ...for me there was no substance a bit like a southern pint.
"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:10:07:56:19 by Tukey.
North needs success Not sure new coach MUST be Premiership quality Time Trial. I would prefer someone who is astutue with youthful enthusiasm, thinks outside the box, and has a drive to do well without massive resource. Rob Baxter is just that sort of person at Exeter. Someone similar would do nicely.
I disagree completely. I'd trade some of the flare for a good winning record and that can be best achieved by someone who has been there and done that. We were found wanting at crucial points of the important games and I want someone who knows how to deal with that. We need to balance a young side with an old head
I had a personal letter from Sir Geech as well! He clearly knows more of us that we anticipate.
I appear to be a bit out of step with the kit as I like the blue over blue. (never did get white shirts or shorts for rugby union, other than England of course! But then, they never played on the mud lined bogs I played on in my day, many years ago!)
Well, the colours are good. The rest is just a bit of good old Yorkshire flannel or perhaps optimistic marketing.
As for Geech’s words, most of what he described (ie community and work in school etc) has been happening at/from the Academy and club for years, at varying levels, but if they are strengthening this work then great, the Academy will be stronger for it.
John Vickerman talks about pride in representing the county, but, Yorkshire Carnegie is not our county team. Yorkshire Carnegie is simply a Leeds based RU team, which has been blessed with our regions RFU Academy.
Without promotion this is a load of nonsense. Gain promotion; sustain promotion and the rest of the county’s amateur and professional clubs might fall in line behind Yorkshire Carnegie. A case of ‘chicken and egg perhaps but wrong time to rebrand in my opinion and the rebrand is still looking nauseously OTT.
If new wealthy, philanthropic owners bringing the millions that are required are about to sign on the dotted line…then I’ll be very pleasantly surprised.
I have to say that I agree with much of the above post. From what I have seen so far the renaming of the club to 'Yorkshire Carnegie' appears to be little more than a rebranding exercise. I'm also disappointed, but not surprised, that no major shirt sponsors were revealed on the launch date. I struggle therefore to see why the launch date was put back at all.
I understand, and want to buy into, what Geech is trying to achieve. If it works it's a great model. But as WWE alludes to above, whilst we are outside the Premiership why should any young player aspire to join us over Roth or Donny? And if I was a potential investor I would be uncomfortable that anything I put into the club may directly or indirectly go towards paying off 'debts' to the previous administration.
oopnorth Yes I received an email too which is good, and the message is simple and essentially about the Yorkshire vision mooted a few years back.
My hubby got the same message in letter format - the only dealing he's had with the club was to go in the shop to buy me what turned out to be the last ever Tykes shirt.
With Stevie having moved on and the club's current lack of a shirt sponsor.....perhaps we should up our game and go for the shirt sponsorship this year.
We could then get independent TYKES in big letters on the new shirts.
I went a bit OTT with the cheese board last night. But I dreamt we won next seasons play off final v Wuss. Buzz was leading the celebrations in the home kit.
You read it here first - hope it doesn't come back to haunt me.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:20:08:14:33 by Gelbel.
Oh you of little faith. I am sure Geech is just waiting for the right moment to announce our new Head Coach, together with at least six brilliant, experienced players who will make minced meat out of Worcester and Bristol.
I'm sure I read somewhere that we're going to operate with a squad of 35 this season. With 34 already listed on the offy that means there's only one more to come!
I did think that Georgiou looked pretty good on the wing last season though.
I suspect that it will take more than one season for the 'Yorkshire' model to bear fruit. A longer stay in the championship I can deal with, finishing below Roth and Donny less so.
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