Harris given vote of confidence by Koukash
Salford coach Iestyn Harris has received the backing of the club’s owner Dr Marwan Koukash.
In the wake of the Red Devils’ home humbling by St Helens last week, Koukash tweeted, somewhat enigmatically, “I have had enough.”
Australia coach Tim Sheens is also set to arrive at the club soon, to spend three weeks there in an advisory capacity.
Many took these events as signs that Harris could be on his last legs as club coach, but Koukash has insisted that the Welshman’s job is safe.
“I love rugby league, I love Salford. I am fully committed to the club and I am fully committed to taking the club forward,” he told Sky Sports News.
“We might have had a hiccup early in the season but that doesn’t lessen my commitment to the club.
“There were a number of factors that led me to say that. I’ve discussed it with the boys, we had a meeting on Monday morning, and everything is fine now, and we move on.
“Iestyn’s job is absolutely safe. Like I said we have talked about it in the dressing room and we know what we need to do to move forward. We will start the hard work.
“I have a number of friends in rugby league – one of them is Tim Sheens, and he is coming over here for a few weeks to lend me a hand.
“It’s the way I assured Iestyn. He is our head coach and he will be our head coach after the three weeks Tim is here. Whether it’s me, the CEO, or Iestyn, we are always willing to listen to advice and receive some help.
“There is nothing wrong with that whatsoever. As long as it is for the benefit of the club, I can’t see the harm in that.
“Tim has been around for a very long time. There’s not many people out there with more experience of rugby league than Tim.
“He will be able to advise us about our systems in the club, not just on the playing field, but off the field as well. Whatever we need, he is there to help us for the next three weeks.
“If Iestyn needs him, he can have him and ask for advice.”
Koukash was less emphatic about the future of troubled Salford forward Gareth Hock, however, who was banned for sic games this week for foul play.
“It’s up to Gareth now,” said Koukash.
“But I think, sitting with him at the weekend talking with him about his future in rugby league, maybe the time has come for Gareth to see what else he wants to do other than rugby league.”