Rugby league: Gregory bows to inevitable
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Your support makes all the difference.THE INEVITABLE finally arrived for Andy Gregory yesterday, as his turbulent four-year reign at Salford came to an end.
The longest-serving coach in Super League left by what was described, in the time-honoured phrase, as mutual consent. Salford's recent record left both him and the club with little choice.
Despite expensive rebuilding, Salford have lost all nine Super League matches so far this season. Including the tail-end of last season, his losing streak runs to 13 games - the stuff of sackings however they are dressed up.
"I've reached this decisions in the best interests of Andy Gregory and Salford," he said, putting a brave face on it. "This is the first time in 20-odd years that I haven't been involved in rugby league - and it's a relief."
Gregory, whose status as a player was underlined this weekend when he became one of the first four players to be inducted into Wigan's hall of fame, took over at Salford from Garry Jack in March 1995.
His side won the First Division title and promotion to Super League the following year. Their first season in the top flight was also encouraging, with a sixth-place finish that defied all predictions.
It was last year that everything began to go wrong, with Salford slipping to 11th out of 12 and Gregory becoming embroiled in a series of disputes with referees which eventually saw him fined pounds 1,500 for abusing one of their number.
It was those referees on whom he heaped much of the blame for his demise yesterday. "Referees hate Andy Gregory and they've been taking it out on my players," he alleged. "All the 50-50 decisions have been going against us."
Gregory said that the hostility of a section of the crowd had not been a factor in his departure. "Most of the supporters have been fine and I still have the greatest admiration for the chairman, John Wilkinson.
"I hope to pick up the paper on Thursday morning and see that Salford have beaten Leeds."
The immediate responsibility for trying to turn around a season falls on Gregory's assistants, Steve O'Neill, John Foran and Steve McCormack. They will select and prepare the side to face the Cup-winners at The Willows tonight.
Numerous names will be mentioned as possible successors. The New Zealand Test coach, Frank Endacott, expressed interest in a job in Britain during their tour last year. Steve Simms, now back in Australia, has been linked with the club, as, more recently, has Ian Millward, who has been impressive at Leigh.
The best bet could be Dean Lance, previously in charge of the Perth Western Reds. Like Endacott, he is on Leeds' list, but informed sources point to him being Salford's first choice for a difficult and demanding task.
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