Lee Radford named new Hull boss

Hull have appointed hometown lad and former club captain Lee Radford as Peter Gentle’s successor as the club’s Head Coach.

Radford, 34, becomes Super League‘s youngest coach and the ninth English coach in the competition, replacing the Australian who departed earlier this week.

He came through the Hull academy, before a spell at Bradford, and then returned to the Black and Whites in 2006.

Club owner Adam Pearson said: “I’ve seen natural leadership, natural respect, an understand of the club and an understanding of the city from Lee. Rugby league is a passion amongst so many of the population of Hull and Lee understands that. 

“I need a leader who people naturally look up to and who can instil a little bit of discipline and fear, get some consistency into our play and make sure the team turns up every week and not when it particularly wants to. It’s very important that the leader sets that tone and I think Lee has those qualities. 

“I think we have progressed as a club over the last two years and sixth and a Wembley place is okay, but there has definitely been a lack of consistency in our performances. 

“There’s too much difference between our poor performances and our outstanding games and I’m looking to Lee to put stability and consistency in place, and for everybody involved in the coaching team to know how important rugby league is to the people of Hull.”

Radford, who made more than 200 appearances for the club, will be joined on the new look coaching staff by Andy Last, as assistant coach, and former team-mate Motu Tony as first-team Football Manager.

Radford said: “It’s a massive role and a massive responsibility. As a Hull fan wanting to see the club do well and achieve the success everybody is talking about, it’s a huge chapter in my life.

“It’s not a decision that has come easy to me, it’s one that I’ve contemplated and gone over every aspect of it. It’s a massive job, I’m fully aware of that, but I can’t wait to get going.”