Hull FC chief executive Richie Myler has publicly defended the club's handling of head coach John Cartwright’s exit after confirming that Steve McNamara will assume the role in 2027. The situation has generated considerable debate among supporters and pundits, prompting Myler to clarify the timeline, the reasoning behind the move, and the manner in which the club communicated with Cartwright.
Initially, Cartwright signed a three‑year deal that was slated to run through the conclusion of the 2027 Super League season. However, the organization later informed the Australian coach that his contract would be terminated a year early, at the end of the 2026 campaign.
The club’s original plan was for Cartwright to finish the current season, after which McNamara—who hails from Hull—would step in as the long‑term head coach beginning in 2027. On April 7, Hull FC announced that Cartwright would depart at the end of the Betfred Super League season.
Six days later, the coach held an emotional press conference in which he described feeling "betrayed" and "disrespected," insisting he had not been given a clear rationale for the decision. The following week, Cartwright oversaw Hull’s match against Hull KR and St Helens, a 24‑14 home loss. After the final whistle, he left the pitch to a standing ovation, with several players walking alongside him down the tunnel—a poignant mix of solidarity and farewell. Shortly after that game, the club confirmed that Cartwright would no longer perform head‑coach duties, although he would remain on the payroll in a different capacity.
The announcement also confirmed Steve McNamara as the long‑term successor. Myler said his primary aim was to give supporters "clarity" about the situation and dismissed claims that Cartwright had been notified via email. According to Myler, the narrative that the coach learned of his dismissal through an electronic message is "not strictly true." Myler explained that the conversation actually took place face‑to‑face in Cartwright’s office on the Monday before the Hull derby. "John and I spoke for about ten minutes in his office about the upcoming derby," Myler recalled.
"My understanding of that discussion was clear, but John remembers it slightly differently, which has led to the confusion we see now." He continued, "From that meeting we agreed that from 2027 the club would head in a different direction. He still had our full backing for 2026. The intention was that he would hear this directly from me and the board, not from a newspaper or a speculative article that had been running for months about who would replace him without his knowledge." Myler admitted that his delivery might not have been as precise as John needed.
After the initial talk, Myler met with Andrew Thirkill, who then spent an hour on the phone with Cartwright to reiterate the club’s stance and reaffirm their commitment to him for the remainder of the 2026 season. "Part of John’s contract required us to inform him in writing about the decision," Myler added, "but the suggestion that we did so by email is inaccurate." When asked about the timing of the decision, Myler emphasized that Hull could not afford to wait in a volatile coaching market, especially given McNamara’s availability. "The timing is linked to Steve McNamara," he said. "Steve and I had several conversations where the plan progressed very clearly." He noted that the transition was not a simple handover because McNamara was still under contract with Warrington at the time, and that the two clubs needed to sort out the contractual details.
"We were aligned that the move would happen once the paperwork was finalized," Myler explained. "I was travelling when John learned the news, and I chose not to tell him immediately because I didn’t think it was the right moment.
He only knew that someone else was being considered." Myler praised McNamara’s abilities, citing his successful stint at Catalans as evidence of his capacity to lead an organization. "I know Steve’s strengths and what he can bring to a club, having seen it firsthand at Catalans," Myler said. He also highlighted the broader context of the English coaching market.
"If you look at the market right now, Huddersfield have let Luke Robinson go, Leeds are dealing with Brad Arthur’s situation, and the most obvious change is Willie Peters leaving Hull KR," Myler observed. "I was thinking we needed to act quickly, and there was a promising assistant coach at Warrington I didn’t want to miss." Myler warned that missing the opportunity could have alienated Hull’s fanbase.
"If we had let that chance slip, we would be having a very different conversation now, and our supporters would be extremely annoyed," he warned. "I didn’t want to miss an opportunity. The timeline unfortunately impacted John’s position, but our intention was always to be honest with him." He concluded by acknowledging Cartwright’s reaction.
"Given how he responded to the news, we had to act accordingly," Myler said. "Our aim was never to undermine his contributions; he has done a great job for Hull and will remain part of the club in a different role." The episode underscores the complexities of succession planning in professional sport, where contractual obligations, market dynamics, and personal relationships intersect.
While some fans remain upset about the abruptness of the change, the club’s leadership maintains that the decision was made in the best long‑term interests of Hull FC and its supporters. The upcoming season will now see Steve McNamara preparing to take the reins, while John Cartwright transitions to a new chapter within the organization, hopefully preserving the respect and gratitude that many fans expressed during his final match.