Now I’m just pointing this out with no ulterior motive whatsoever! I promise!
John Mitchell, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, has notified the Western Force management that he will not seek a renewal of his current contract when it expires at the end of the 2011 season. The former All Black coach has had his fair share of disappointments since taking the reigns in Perth back in 2006 Β and it’s probably fair to say that he hasn’t quite managed to achieve all that he wanted to.
There have been problems with injuries, player exoduses and the like, but also far deeper problems between the coach and the players. Mitchell’s authoritarian style is apparently not universally appreciated in laid-back Perth and there have been any number of highly-publicised bust-ups, including the sacking of scrumhalf Matt Henjak in 2008.
So Mitch will be a free agent in 2011. Let’s not forget that he did show face in Durban during the Currie Cup last year and even took over as interim coach for a week while John Plumtree made a trip back to New Zealand. I, for one, wouldn’t be a absolutely gobsmacked to find Mitchell’s name strongly linked to the Sharks in the months to come.

2012 is a long time to wait for a Sharks saviour…
He has lost so much with the Force what will he be able to do with the Sharks?? π Maybe working with better players he could do something but I am not too sure.
Let him in slowly he can coach in the CC. π
He is a very good coach imo.
Had a good record with both the Chiefs and the All Blacks.
I wonder if his authoritarian style would be a problem for the players in laid back durban? π
Hopefully by then we’ll have settled the flyhalf debate… π
@war1 (Comment 4) : I would think yes and for that reason not want him to come to durban and anyway isn’t the official word that plum is about to sign a 3 year contract extension?
@war1 (Comment 6) : hasn’t actually signed it yet, though…
does the Sharks really need another coach that uses the Plum system?
@Pokkel (Comment 8) : π π π
@robdylan (Comment 7) : are you in any doubt he will?
Not another kiwi, please.
Rather get Earl Rose to coach.
@war1 (Comment 6) : oh shit and we wanted a new coach is this good or bad for sharks if he does π
@FireTheLooser (Comment 11) : Earl Rose hmmm π₯
@FireTheLooser (Comment 11) : πΏ π
@Chaz (Comment 14) : I almost feel sorry for Earl, but luckily he’s not a Sharks fan, so he won’t be hanging around Sharksworld….or is he? π
@FireTheLooser (Comment 15) : hope not me don’t like him btw π³
@Chaz (Comment 12) : i guess time will tell, although i think 3 years is too long a contract
@war1 (Comment 17) : yes it, is so for me he must not sign and get us another coach for thae contract but who π
@Chaz (Comment 18) : IF he does not sign, there will be a number of options im sure, but if he does sign, there is no point speculating imho
@war1 (Comment 19) : true
@war1 (Comment 10) : the jury is still out, in my mind.
Hey, how cool is that? I have an entire jury in my mind. Freaky π
@FireTheLooser (Comment 15) : Just hold thumbs no one in Sharks Country decide to sign Earl π―
@Original Pierre (Comment 22) : Yes, maybe as defense coach.
Not even Straeuli is that daft. I hope. π
@robdylan (Comment 21) : π
He (Mitchell) is an absolute head case….i wouldn’t go near him with a barge pole ! π―
@FireTheLooser (Comment 11) : You like Kiwi’s really ! π
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 26) : π³ Nothing personal…just want a local Sharks man to take over from Plum.
ok – I’m outta here. Keep well guys. See yas later
@robdylan (Comment 28) : You hitch hiking to the airport again? π
@FireTheLooser (Comment 27) : π Makes sense !
I nominate the Maties coach π
@JarsonX (Comment 31) :
Chean Roux??? π
@wpw (Comment 32) : He/they is/are not losing is/are he/they π π Do the basics right and things will go well
4 get Mitchell! Stay with Sean Everitt. Would cost less (we’ve wasted Millions on players), the players knows him and he knows them better (than Mitch).
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 34) : agree, and his record aint to shabby either π
Mitchellβs authoritarian style is apparently not universally appreciated in laid-back Perth
PRECISELY why he will never feature or make a success of it in Durban. There is no city more laidback than Dbn In SA.
CT is not laidback it is zonked.
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 36) :
No wonder your team is performing so poorly. They are too laid-back!!!
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 36) : wh is your team may i ask pleaseee π