THE question on most people's lips at present is whether Hull KR coach Craig Sandercock deserves a new contact at the Robins.
Deserve is the important word here, does he deserve to stay on.
The only opinions that matter on this are those in the KR boardroom, but I have an opinion based on what I know, see, hear and have known previous. Sandercock had a difficult task from day one in following Justin Morgan, a man who did the unthinkable for KR in taking them into Super League, keeping them there, reaching the play-offs, a fourth-placed finish and then beating Hull FC in the play-offs.
He inherited a team that wasn't his for 2012, then his budget was slashed in 2013.
Senior, established players departed in the shape of Ben Galea and Shannon McDonnell, whilst the likes of Scott Taylor and Blake Green were sold.
In came youngsters like Omari Caro, Greg Eden and Adam Walker, whilst a couple of senior players like Travis Burns and the yet-to-be-seen Sean Gleeson were brought in.
Sandercock has taken on a job which in anybody's world is completely different to the man he succeeded. Compared to Morgan, he's had one hand tied behind his back.
The job from day one has been tough, inheriting a team, trying to impose your structures, and then that team being dismantled in cost-cutting measures.
The question I'd ask is are Hull KR anywhere other than where most people expected them to be at this stage of 2013? For me, no. They are scrapping for the eighth spot, like I thought they would be in January.
The squad is that of the position they are currently in.
Sandercock is working hard with the players at his disposal, I've no doubt of that, and those players must bear a huge responsibility for their errors.
Greg Eden is skating on thin ice with his fellow players after the reaction to his lack of bravery in defending Sam Tomkins' second try last weekend.
Others too are still making the same errors in games as they were in round one to six.
Unfortunately, with young players, who Sandercock has no option but to play, come errors. Basic errors at that.
Who can the coach bring in? There is nobody left in his squad, and the loan signings he's made have been all that's been available to him.
Will he get a new contract? In my opinion, no.
However, this is no reflection to me on his ability as a coach. I just believe the club will go in a new direction, with a new coach who can simply start again and rejuvenate the current players.
I think the club will choose a British coach, revamp the whole organisation and begin the slow process of building from the bottom up.
