Kear in running for Cas job

John Kear has previously spoken of his affection for Castleford
13 April 2013

Former players John Kear and Andy Hay are expected to be among the candidates to succeed Australian Ian Millward at Castleford.

Millward paid the price for the Tigers' disappointing start to the season when he parted company with the Super League strugglers less than halfway through his three-year contract.

With Millward's right-hand man Stuart Donlan also shown the door, former captain Danny Orr has been placed in temporary charge ahead of Saturday's televised home game against Widnes.

But the 34-year-old Orr is a coaching novice, having joined the club's backroom staff at the end of last season after hanging up his boots, and he will hold the reins until a permanent appointment is made.

Former Sheffield Eagles, Hull and Wakefield head coach Kear, 58, who is now in charge of part-timers Batley, would be a logical choice given his long-stated affection for his home-town club and it would be no surprise if he was recruited to work alongside Orr.

Hay, another Castleford old boy who is now assistant to Peter Gentle at Hull, and former Hull KR coach Justin Morgan are other names being linked with the vacancy. Hay was right-hand man to Millward's predecessor Terry Matterson while Morgan was thought to be in the running for the job when Millward was appointed in November 2011.

Tuesday's announcement came as no surprise, with the Tigers bottom of Super League after a run of seven straight defeats. Under the former Leigh, St Helens and Wigan boss, Castleford won just one of their last 18 games, remarkably against reigning champions Leeds, and in all enjoyed just seven victories out of a possible 38.

They also suffered an embarrassing exit at the hands of neighbours Featherstone in the Challenge Cup last season and are also in danger of going out at the first hurdle in this year's competition after being paired with Leeds.

The club have been rocked by problems off the field, too, with doubts persisting over their move to a proposed new stadium amid continuing speculation over their financial state, yet they will have no difficulty finding a new head coach.

Newly-appointed chief executive Steve Gill said the Tigers had received four applications within an hour of confirming Millward's departure, although he said the club will take their time before making an appointment.

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