Yahoo News 'Top four club' Richie Myler to make Hull FC head coach call as certain fit desired
Richie Myler has shed some light on the level of interest in the vacant Hull FC head coach role. The Black and Whites' new director of rugby is tasked with hiring a permanent appointment to lead what he believes is a 'top four club' forward after the departure of Tony Smith.
And for the 33-year-old, who has a huge decision to make in the coming future, there have been a significant number of candidates arising. The interest is there on both sides of the world, with dozens of applicants getting in touch with the club.
Myler's task now is to find the right candidate who is the best fit for the club with an identity that aligns with the club's vision moving forward. That, ultimately, is not an overnight process, with Myler, who joined up with the Black and Whites after announcing his retirement from playing last month, stating that the successful candidate will have a 'blank canvas' to stamp his mark on the side and the club.
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Hull Live has been told from the off that the preference is for a British coach, or at least one who knows the ins and outs of the Super League competition. However, despite the interest arising, a significant leap in that process has yet to come to fruition. So far, Paul Rowley is the only coach that Hull have made a formal offer to. Myler has spoken to other coaches, namely Adrian Lam, but nothing has yet materialised, with current interim head coach Simon Grix also in the running for the job.
"There are lots of ongoing conversations," Myler said. "There are a lot of coaches who want the job, which is good for the club. It's a case of going through that and deciding who fits the bill.
"A lot of coaches have agents these days, and a lot of agents have sent me details of coaches who want the job. I've had lots of emails that have come through, and I've had lots of conversations about what they can add to us and our environment. That's pretty much where we're at at the moment. There are a number of people that want to come and work for us and help us achieve what we want to achieve."
Myler continued: "The head coach role at Hull FC is a massive, massive role. We are, in my eyes, a top-four club. Yes, we've underperformed for a large period of time, but our infrastructure, where we stand as a club, our history, and our resources—I don't say that heartily. We can be a challenging club.
"Our head coach appointment needs to be the right fit for what we want to do over this next period of time, and this person has to buy into what we want to achieve. The names of the people that we have been linked to are very experienced coaches; they will add elements to us, and that person coming in here will be vital to the vision that we go forward with. Those conversations need to be thought through to make sure we get the right guy.
"The person who will come in here has a massive opportunity. It's a blank canvas. We need to go up a few levels in our performances, and if the person who comes into the role from outside or from within the club can get that out of the team, then we'll all be happy. It just has to be the right fit for the club. That's the most important thing."
