Rugby League Coaching Manuals

By Barry Toohey, The Sunday Telegraph - Brian Smith's coaching future is under a cloud following revelations the Newcastle Knights are not prepared to gamble by signing him to a long-term deal. Smith comes off contract at the end of this season after three years at the club. But if he is looking for job security, the veteran coach won't find it.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that Smith will this week be offered only a one-year extension to his current deal with the guarantee of an extra year only if the Knights reach the top four in 2010.

The take-it-or-leave it offer is hardly a big vote of confidence in one of the game's longest-serving coaches. A salary increase is also unlikely because the club can't afford it.

A marathon three-hour meeting of the Knights board last Wednesday night formalised the plan. Sources said the debate among club directors over the coaching position was "lively''.

It has even been suggested there was talk of not renewing his contract at all before the one-year extension compromise was reached. Chief executive Steve Burraston rang Smith shortly after the meeting to let him know of the decision.

But it is unclear if the coach has been made aware of the conditions of the new offer. It was initially reported the length of the extension would be a matter for discussion during negotiations this week between Smith and Burraston.

Smith said yesterday he knew little about what the offer would be or the length of the term.

"I only know what I've read. I've spoken to Steve and we'll be getting together,'' Smith said.

Asked if he would be prepared to accept a one-year deal, Smith said: "I'll worry about that when we sit down to talk it through.''

Burraston was also guarded on the subject. "As yet, I haven't had the chance to sit down with Brian to discuss the extension, but I hope to do that early next week,'' Burraston said on Friday. "Until we do that, I can't really comment on what may or may not happen.''

When asked to confirm the offer would be for just one season, Burraston said he wasn't in a position to go into specifics. "I'm not going to confirm or deny anything. We'll just wait and see how it pans out.''

Despite his failure to win a premiership, Smith's longevity can't be questioned.

This will be his 26th season of top-level coaching without a break, having started in first grade with the Illawarra Steelers in 1984.

Since then, he has coached English club Hull (1988-90), St George (1990-95), Bradford (1996) and Parramatta (1997-2006), before linking with the Knights in 2007.

His first year at the Knights was tumultuous, with Smith axing as many as 12 established first-graders.

The biggest player shake-up in the club's history and a falling out with senior players, including captain Danny Buderus, left the coach on the nose with sections of the club and supporters.

While the tension eased last year, with Smith recruiting a host of new players and almost making the finals, several leading officials remain wary of things going pear-shaped under his control.

Given the Knights' precarious financial position - the club is about to announce a loss of around $300,000 for last season on top of the $1.3 million from the previous year - officials maintain they can't afford a big pay-out if they get it wrong.