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Surprise choice for new coach?

30/ 5/2002

SALFORD City Reds will unveil their new coach tomorrow (Friday) - and two surprise names have joined the race to replace Steve McCormack at the Willows.

Former Wigan and GB greats Andy Goodway and Ellery Hanley are now favourites to fill the vacant role after Reds director of football Steve Simms gave fans a clue as to the identity of the new coach at a supporters meeting on Tuesday.

Simms revealed the coach being lined up for the top job not only has a good playing and coaching pedigree - but will come as a big surprise to most fans. He ruled out former favourite, Whitehaven's Paul Cullen, and Advertiser Sport can reveal Warrington Wolves may soon take Cullen back in a coaching capacity.

Simms was due to meet the new coach yesterday and hopes to announce the decision tomorrow.

He said: "I'm sure everyone is going to be thrilled and that he is going to take Salford out of trouble and into the future."

Goodway had a glorious playing career at Wigan and has been keen to get back into rugby after spells in charge of Oldham, Paris, Wigan and Great Britain found mixed success. Hanley is currently coaching in Rugby Union with England and Bath and also won the Grand Final with St Helens.

The appointment of either man would come as a shock to fans after it seemed only four men would realistically be in the running.

Mike Ford, who is understood to have applied for the position, is under contract with the Irish Rugby League and still has two months on his contract. Oldham coach John Harbin and former Wigan junior coach Billy McGinty were outsiders for the job - but Simms' hint of a distinguished playing career could rule them out.

And Leigh coach Paul Terzis, who has long since been linked with the Willows confirmed this week that if he were approached by the Reds he would like a chance to coach in Super League - but again his playing career may not fit the bill.

It is understood that Aussies John Cartwright and John Elias, Hull assistant coach Tony Anderson and ex-Saints assistant Harry Bryant have also applied for the position.