St Helens chair Eamonn McManus admits an ‘environment change’ was needed in his first address of Paul Rowley’s exit from the club – and insists they will not be rushed in finding his replacement.
McManus has spoken for the first time since the Saints agreed to part company with Rowley last month, in an extensive interview with Sky Sports.
He has admitted that Rowley was a ‘casualty’ of a disastrous season and an environment that needed complete overhaul from top to bottom.
McManus addresses Rowley exit
Speaking with Brian Carney, Jon Wilkin and Sam Tomkins, McManus insisted he felt Rowley was the right appointment, but that change became inevitable.
“We got a very good coach,” he said.
“Paul is a very good person and very good coach, and as Jon knows from his time here.. I recall Jon being disconsolate on the pitch in 2017 after being beaten by Castleford in the quarters of the Challenge Cup.
“When things are not as they should be at a club of St Helens’ stature, they need to be changed. The environment needed to be changed, and it’s not just coaching, we’re not in the position we should be at and Paul was the casualty of that.”
McManus was then asked when he decided it was the right time to part ways with Rowley.
“There’s no such thing as a good time, is there,” the Saints chair said.
“That’s a private matter and I’ve spoke to Paul, he’s still held in the highest esteem by the club and he’s still employed by the club.
“We got criticised last season over the timing of announcing the new coach, we’ve done it three or four months beforehand and we’re looking for a new coach to be in place for the start of next season and be involved in recruitment for next season. That was the time we chose.”
McManus on Rowley’s replacement
McManus then admitted they are in the process of whittling an extensive list of candidates down to ‘four or five’ – but insisted there was no rush on making a decision, and refused to elaborate on a timeframe.
He said: “I’ve been blown away by the number and calibre of approaches we’ve had. We’re still St Helens, we’re still a leading name in rugby league and we always will be. We’re narrowing the search down to four or five on the shortlist.”
He also promised fans the club ‘will improve’ in 2027 when it comes to recruitment.
“Our position in the league and our performances not just this season, but over two or three years, have not been what we want and expect.
“Last year, we did not get the players that we went into the market for during the course of the season. I’ll give Paul Rowley his due, he was appointed in October and we were short in a number of positions and he was able to recruit four or five players.
“Without them, we’d have been in even worse trouble during this year. But I would agree; I won’t go into injuries but 16 players out.. please name me another club that could perform with that level of injury. But we’re looking to improve, we must improve and we will improve.”