I've been questioning if Kear is the right person to take us forward for a while now and that has been purely my own opinion based on the way the team have performed, the way I have witnessed them being trained and the style/tactics that has been employed. For me the team is way better on paper than the results have been suggesting.
On Friday I spoke with a few of the players after the game and I would suggest going by their comments, Kear has lost the dressing room. I'm not going to name names as it would be unfair on them, but they can see the same things that are wrong that us fans see. One suggested that Kear cannot see those issues and insists on playing to a certain structure that clearly isn't working which is frustrating a large number of the playing staff.
Fitness is one of the areas of contention, as is the ruck speed and in particular the ability to get a quick play of the ball/slow the opposition doing the same. The lack of mobility in our forwards means that we struggle to regain our feet quickly and cannot defend competently at marker defence.
We have a number of talented squad members who deserve their shot, but JK insists on playing his favourites even when medical advice suggests otherwise. Prime example is Sam Scott leaving the field, which won't have come as a huge surprise to many who know the actual extent of his knee injury. Why would a coach chose that option when he has a number of other players waiting for their chance, AJ Wallace being one?
I am convinced that a change of coach would have an immediate lift to this team, and hopefully provide a lot of them with a clean slate and genuine chance of some game time which won't happen with the current set up. That said, I don't think the club can afford to pay him up so unless JK has a change of heart, its going to be a long long season.
Assuming we don't renew his contract, I'd personally go for James Webster if he was available. He coached Fev on a PT basis and if he work/studies at Leeds Beckett will allow it, then I think he would be a very good appointment. Another option for me would be Rhys Lovegrove who has done a great job in L1 with Keighley and could potentially be interested in a step up.