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Post by bandgeekmafia78 on Jan 2, 2018 15:05:52 GMT
First one of the year!
Post your questions below and I'll get them over to him in a day or two.
Thanks.
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Post by tony13 on Jan 2, 2018 18:49:12 GMT
Sorry, but my question is, "WTF's going on?"
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Post by osrd on Jan 2, 2018 19:01:19 GMT
Could Paul please explain just what his duties entail.
Could he give us his opinions on what players throughout his career stood out from others.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2018 23:52:12 GMT
I'm with tony13, the most important question must be what is going on.
Others.
Does Paul think that the current uncertainty over ownership is good for the players welfare?
Does he think that the Easter schedule should be changed for player welfare?
Will (or maybe they already do) offer end of playing career opportunities to players who wish to stay within the game.
Was Paul surprised that Adrian Morley has now left the game.
Does Paul think that Sky and there total command on TV schedules puts player welfare at risk with shorter than ideal turn around periods?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 10:03:23 GMT
Some nice easy questions there to ease him into the new role! Paul was always ine of my favourite players - did the hard graft with little fanfare. Had a few outstanding performances as well.
What does he think was his best ever performance for eithe Salford or Wales?
Biggest character he ever shared a dressing room with? And any story about them in particular that stands out?
Most talented player he ever played with?
Nowt original there but I’m still very interested in the answers.
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Post by bandgeekmafia78 on Jan 3, 2018 10:38:47 GMT
Sorry, but my question is, "WTF's going on?" I'm not sure whether he'll be able to answer this, and probably a bit unfair to drag him in to it! I'll ask the question though. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 10:43:39 GMT
Sorry, but my question is, "WTF's going on?" I'm not sure whether he'll be able to answer this, and probably a bit unfair to drag him in to it! I'll ask the question though. I doubt he will answer even if he wants to say it's a clusterfuck Paul is to much of a pro for that. I have an extra question, ask him if he thought after he left last time his bridges had been burned with the club? |
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Post by kreuzbergred on Jan 3, 2018 15:33:50 GMT
He's aĺways been a Regular visitor - GMR Commentaries and just to Watch games ,Can't think of anything he's ever done to Burn his Bridges.
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Post by hillbillyred on Jan 3, 2018 15:53:20 GMT
What can he/we/the club do to make a greater impression on the communities we are supposed to be attracting?
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Post by tony13 on Jan 3, 2018 18:56:36 GMT
Sorry, but my question is, "WTF's going on?" I'm not sure whether he'll be able to answer this, and probably a bit unfair to drag him in to it! I'll ask the question thoug h. I did not expect you to ask it verbatim. It was more of a scream from a tortured soul. Perhaps you could paraphrase it? "Does he have any ideas about how the club can keep the fans informed without resorting to Twitter"? Would that be better? |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 21:38:22 GMT
He's aĺways been a Regular visitor - GMR Commentaries and just to Watch games ,Can't think of anything he's ever done to Burn his Bridges. Sorry maybe poorly worded, I more meant how good is his relationship with Koucash after me already getting rid once? |
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Post by bandgeekmafia78 on Jan 4, 2018 8:24:57 GMT
Thanks everyone. I'll send these questions to Paul today.
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Post by bandgeekmafia78 on Jan 5, 2018 6:43:35 GMT
What do your duties entail?
My day to day duties are to help the players with their off field requirements. Any personal issues they may have or worries I’m there in a confidential capacity to advise and sign post them to a solution. Ill also be looking at their education and business aspirations once their career is over to help with that transition that will inevitably come around. I'll also be carrying out the team manager duties which will be to liaise with the coaching staff and CEO on the day-to-day running of the playing squad in line with the RFL’s policies.
What can you/the fans/the club do in order to make a greater impression on the communities we are supposed to be attracting?
From the short time I've been back, it's evident the club are making a huge effort to attract new fans and retain the amazing and loyal current ones, but I think the fans voice sings the loudest and the more the fans shout about / tweet about and spread the word of the club and applaud the efforts of last season and get their fellows excited about the one to come - that can only help.
I've already said that I will make myself available for any forum or question and answer session that is put on, and that is echoed by the rest of the staff.
Do you have any ideas on how the club can keep the fans informed without resorting to just social media?
I know the club are in talks with a number of high profile PR groups to raise our profile.
Which players throughout your career stood out from the others?
We had many a big name during my time like Martin Offiah and Mike Hancock just at the wrong end of their careers, but players like Gavin Clinch and Cliff Beverly were fantastic to play with - great guys on and off the field too.
What were your best ever performances for Salford and Wales?
The ones that stand out for me are the World Cup semi for Wales against Australia where we were winning with 18 min to go... the Fitler decided to put his cig out and have a go and tore us apart. For the Reds I'd say every game we played against Warrington home or away. The atmosphere was always electric.
Who's the biggest character you have ever shared a dressing room with? Any story about them that stands out?
For me it would have to be John Bentley - the dual-code international winger whilst I was at Halifax. The guy was a true gentleman but a total nutter! He was the kind of guy I loved to be around but made me nervous... he was always up to something. The tales I have are probably not best shared on social media haha!
Who's the most talented player you have ever played with?
For club I'd say Steve Blakely - he was so talented and a natural athlete, although couldn’t tackle a good Sunday dinner haha - he won't mind me saying that as I've told him the same many times. Internationally, it would be Iestyn Harris - He was at the peak of his game during our International time together and was genius with ball in hand.
Do you think that the Easter schedule should be changed for player welfare?
It certainly isn’t ideal from a player/coaches point of view. Our game is unbelievably physical and the day-to-day prep that goes on for a game 7 days apart from the next is meticulously planned, and has to be to keep the players fit both mentally and physically and that Easter period is as much about damage limitation as it is picking up points and for me needs to be looked at. The quality of rugby definitely drops as the weekend progresses, and that's not fair on the players or fans and certainly doesn’t paint our great sport in a glowing light when the games are on Sky and the games are slow and error strewn.
Does the club offer 'end of playing career' opportunies to players who wish to stay within the game?
The club through myself and the governing body NOW put a huge emphasis on the players transitioning out of the sport with a focus or a direction on a career path that will help them to be as successful in the next phase of their lives as their playing ones were. Our CEO Ian Blease has stressed to me his keenness for our guys to have an interest or goal outside of the club that they are working towards as that is a huge weight off a players shoulders if they know that should the worst happen like a career ending injury or the inevitable time to hang up the boots arrive that they are secure with employment for their families and for their own piece of mind.
Do you think that Sky and their command of TV schedules puts player welfare at risk with shorter-than-ideal turnaround periods?
SKY generally work as close as possible with clubs to minimise disruption wherever possible, but this isn’t always the case. It's a tough one that and probably a better question for Ian as that’s his dept.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2018 7:39:54 GMT
Some good answers, did you find a more acceptable way of asking the WTF is going on question?
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Post by tony13 on Jan 5, 2018 10:31:29 GMT
Some good answers, did you find a more acceptable way of asking the WTF is going on question? If bgm doesn't mind, I'll answer that by pointing to the third question in the list, which is more or less the same as my toned-down alternative. The answer is positive and sounds as though the club realise that there is an issue here. Finally, a big thank you to bandgeekmafia for organising the Q&A and a huge thank you to Paul for such a rapid response. Well done, both! |
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