Wigan appoint
Ian Millward as coach

Wigan have appointed Ian Millward as head coach on a three-year contract.

The Warriors have lost eight of their first 14 matches this season, currently languish in the bottom-half of the table and are in danger of failing to make the end-of-season play-offs for the first time ever.

However, Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay was keen to make it clear the appointment of Millward was not a criticism of coach Denis Betts.

He said: ?Denis has tremendous potential to be a top-class British coach but he inherited the team at a difficult time and his position wasn?t helped by the loss of Andy Farrell and the critical injuries to Luke Davico, Gareth Hock and Sean O?Loughlin.

?The loss of those four players meant that Denis was performing under difficult circumstances and considering all those difficulties we believe he has actually performed very well.

"At the same time the club has been presented with the opportunity to secure the services of one of the world?s most successful coaches.?

Millward added: "I?m delighted to be joining the Wigan club.

?As St Helens coach they were always serious rivals but like everyone in the game, I have the utmost respect for their tradition and standing in the world game.

?I am tremendously excited by the prospect of joining a great club. Maurice rang me this weekend for the first time, but it took us both only five minutes to agree to my coming. I can?t wait to get started."

Betts said: ?I am genuinely pleased that Ian is joining the club. I am a young coach, full of ambition and I realise that working with Ian will help me to reach my goals.

?My first task is to help Ian and the club get through a difficult season. We have already started to build for next year and a bright future is ahead.?

- - - - -

Thanks to "http://www.superleague.co.uk" target="_blank">www.superleague.co.uk for another great article.

You can read the entire statement from the Wigan Warriors website here.