St Helens legend and Sky Sports broadcaster Kyle Amor has taken up a head coaching role.

[josie andrews]

St Helens legend and Sky Sports broadcaster Kyle Amor has, in a surprise turn of events, taken up a head coaching role.

It was confirmed by Whitehaven RL today, in a statement: “Whitehaven Rugby League are delighted to announce that Kyle Amor has agreed to take over as head coach at the club with immediate effect for the remainder of the 2024 season.

“The 37 yr old TV broadcaster with Sky Sports is returning to his roots having played for whitehaven in 2009 and 2010.

His illustrious career has seen him don the shirts of Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield, St Helens, Warrington and finally Widnes. Kyle was also an Irish international and has represented Cumbria.

“Kyle, who is an ambassador for Ortus Solar Energy will assemble the squad on Tuesday and hit the ground running ahead of the clubs visit to Dewsbury. The club would like to welcome Kyle and hope the fans get behind him and the team going forward.”

This comes after Jonty Gorley, the previous head coach, announced that he has resigned from his role just minutes after being in charge for a victory over Doncaster, citing ‘standards’ and ‘morals’ as being the reasoning for the decision, after almost three seasons at the club.

Kyle Amor back in RL after illustrious St Helens career

A four-time Super League winner, Amor takes the role at the age of just 37.

He started his career at Whitehaven, where he was born, meaning this is a much-awaited return.

Young Player of the Year in his first professional season, in the Championship, earned him a move to Leeds Rhinos, being loaned back to Whitehaven.

At St Helens, as well as his four Grand Final victories, he was part of three League Leaders’ Shield-winning sides and the 2021 Challenge Cup winners.

He also represented Ireland at the 2017 World Cup, as well as captaining the Cumbria representative team in one of Jamaica’s warm-up games for the delayed 2021 World Cup.

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/st-helen ... ed-stories

[Charriots Offiah]

In the hot seat now, good luck to him.

[the pieman]

i was reading an article earlier today about the outgoing coach. Seems like things arent too good up there financially, so it could be a real challenge for him, but good luck to him for putting his hand up and taking it on

[BriH]

As a 'Whitehaven Lad' myself, I can only wish him the best of luck.
I think he his going to need it in bucket fulls from what I hear from my brother-in-law who is an ardent Marra supporter.

[josie andrews]

Championship club’s players refuse to fulfil remaining league fixtures as crisis deepens

Struggling Championship side Whitehaven have plunged into fresh crisis: after their playing squad effectively decided to go on strike and refuse to fulfil the club’s remaining league fixtures.

Haven find themselves in a serious relegation battle at the foot of the Championship, but their problems are much more significant off the field, with players not being paid last month and financial issues mounting. Then, head coach Jonty Gorley resigned minutes after their huge win over Doncaster on Sunday, in which they had just 16 players available.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ch ... is-deepens

[Wiganer Ted]

Good luck to him.
Looks like he's going to need it.

[josie andrews]

Yet the RFL won’t or don’t seem to want to help!

No, go talking about playing & spending money on RL in Dublin or Paris when the there are clubs who need financial help

Beggars belief.

Yet when Nigel Wood left the RFL, with a massive ‘golden handshake’, he took over at Bradford & the RFL were falling over themselves to pump money into that club!

[BriH]

Championship club’s players refuse to fulfil remaining league fixtures as crisis deepens

Struggling Championship side Whitehaven have plunged into fresh crisis: after their playing squad effectively decided to go on strike and refuse to fulfil the club’s remaining league fixtures.

Haven find themselves in a serious relegation battle at the foot of the Championship, but their problems are much more significant off the field, with players not being paid last month and financial issues mounting. Then, head coach Jonty Gorley resigned minutes after their huge win over Doncaster on Sunday, in which they had just 16 players available.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ch ... is-deepens

So sad to hear this, but not wholly surprised.

Whitehaven was my home town and that was where I fell in love with Rugby League c. 1955.

[josie andrews]

RFL ‘seeking an explanation’ from Whitehaven as governing body warns of "severe sanctions"

THE RFL has warned Whitehaven of the “severe sanctions” that may arise if they fail to fulfil their club fixtures for the remainder of the 2024 Championship season.

Last night, interim head coach Kyle Amor revealed via Facebook that the current Whitehaven players were refusing to play the remainder of their fixtures after failing to be paid for the last month amidst ongoing financial issues at the Cumbrian club.

The Cumbrian side have been embroiled by financial issues all year, with the players not being paid last month and head coach Jonty Gorley resigning immediately after the club’s big win over Doncaster on Sunday.

With the relationship between players and the board at an all-time low, Haven’s fixture against Dewsbury Rams on Sunday remains in question.

An RFL spokesperson has told League Express, however, that a solution needs to be found.

The RFL spokesperson said: “Having become aware of the latest developments at Whitehaven through the media on Tuesday evening, the RFL has contacted relevant officials seeking an explanation, and impressed on the club their obligation to fulfil fixtures – and the severe sanctions for failing to do so.

“We expect to be kept updated today, and Rugby League Cares have been in contact with the playing group to offer their support.”

https://www.totalrl.com/rfl-seeking-an- ... sanctions/

[josie andrews]

Whitehaven players make U-turn with decision made on future fixtures

The Cumbrian club had been plunged into a crisis.

Whitehaven WILL play their Championship game against Dewsbury Rams this weekend, it has been confirmed. On Tuesday, new head coach Kyle Amor revealed that the playing group was refusing to fulfil the club's remaining fixtures as a result of ongoing tensions with the board of directors.

Jonty Gorley, the previous head coach, left the club after their win over Doncaster on Sunday, with other staff subsequently departing. However, in a fresh update, Amor confirmed that the squad had trained on Thursday evening and preparations were underway for their trip to West Yorkshire to play the Rams, the latest step in their quest to secure Championship survival.

Somehow, we've managed to get them out there and we've had a brilliant training session tonight," Amor told the club.

I have to pay credit to the players, I didn't think we'd get here. I'm absolutely buzzing, but the way the lads trained was upbeat, energetic, and fun and what I've got out there is what Jonty Gorley told me about, a committed bunch that is committed to the club and each other.

We understand and have explained the challenges ahead of us on Sunday, we didn't get everyone down there tonight we would have liked to have done but we managed to get there and show the gritty, underdog Cumbrian mentality.

He added: "The main news is for Whitehaven rugby league and Whitehaven fans, we're going to go to Dewsbury, and we're going to give it our best shot and we are hopefully, potentially, going to do something really special."

They are currently 13th in the Championship and therefore in the relegation zone, but are level on points with Swinton Lions, who are one place above them.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... n-29794877