Stupid, short sighted decision by Saints board. You'll come to regret it when you get the uber talented young English coach that is Rich Agar from Wakey when they bin him off...lmfao
Seriously, all things considered I can't think of any logical reason to get of Simmons now. Sure you've lost some games, a pretty poor points haul so far but you'd have been there or thereabouts come the end of the season. You've been seriously unlucky (The Cats wonder try that shouldn't have been for one) and some players just switching off/underperforming (this happens in sport no matter how good a coach you are)
with the squad you had at your disposal this year it would have been a big ask to win silverware IMO but rebuilding and bringing on the youngsters so they make fewer and fewer mistakes was a priority for you this season. As others have said you are in transition after having had a huge amount of success with some mainstay players that are no longer there.
IF you lose the next 3 games then I think you'll be lucky to make the 8 personally