Hull FC chief executive Richie Myler has stepped forward to clarify the club’s handling of the recent departure of head coach John Cartwright and to outline the rationale behind appointing Steve McNamara as the new head coach beginning in 2027. The situation has generated considerable discussion among supporters and the broader rugby league community, prompting Myler to provide a detailed account of the events, the contractual nuances, and the strategic considerations that guided the club’s decisions. Cartwright originally signed a three‑year agreement that was intended to keep him at the helm through the conclusion of the 2027 Super League season. However, the board later decided that his contract would be terminated a year early, with the end date moving to the close of the 2026 campaign.
The club’s preferred scenario was for Cartwright to finish the current season, after which McNamara would assume the head‑coach role for his hometown side in the following year. On 7 April, Hull FC publicly announced that Cartwright would leave the club at the end of the Betfred Super League season.
Six days later, Cartwright addressed the media in a highly emotional press conference, describing his feelings of betrayal and disrespect. He claimed he had not been given a clear explanation for the board’s decision. Despite the tension, Cartwright led the team in the subsequent match against Hull KR and St Helens, a game that ended in a 24‑14 defeat on home soil. After the final whistle, he received a standing ovation from the crowd, and several players walked with him down the tunnel, a poignant moment that blended solidarity with a heartfelt farewell.
Shortly after the match, Hull FC confirmed that Cartwright would no longer perform head‑coach duties, although he would remain employed by the organization in a different capacity. Steve McNamara was then officially named as the long‑term successor, set to take charge in 2027. Myler emphasized that the club wanted to provide supporters with "clarity" and refuted rumours that Cartwright had been notified of his dismissal via email.
According to Myler, the narrative suggesting an impersonal email was "not strictly true"; instead, the chief executive highlighted a face‑to‑face conversation that occurred in Cartwright’s office on the Monday before the Hull derby. “My discussion with John on Monday lasted no more than ten minutes,” Myler recalled. “I understood the conversation clearly, though John seemed to recall it differently, which has contributed to the subsequent confusion.” He continued, explaining that the meeting’s purpose was to inform Cartwright that the club intended to move in a new direction starting in 2027, while still offering full support for his efforts throughout the 2026 season.
Myler stressed that the intent was for Cartwright to hear the news directly from the board rather than from speculative media reports that had been circulating for months about a potential replacement. Myler admitted that perhaps he could have communicated the message more effectively, saying, "Maybe it is a failure on my part that I didn’t deliver that message as clearly as John needed it." He added that after the initial meeting, he spoke with Andrew Thirkill, who then held a longer phone call with Cartwright to reiterate the club’s stance and reaffirm the commitment to keep him on board for the remainder of the 2026 season. Regarding the contractual requirement to provide written notice, Myler clarified that while a written confirmation was necessary, the claim that it was sent by email was inaccurate.
When questioned about the timing of the decision, Myler explained that the club could not afford to delay its strategic move amid a turbulent coaching market, particularly given the availability of Steve McNamara. "The timing is linked to Steve McNamara," he said. "Steve and I had several conversations where the progress was unmistakably clear." He noted that McNamara was still under contract with Warrington at the time, and the clubs were working through the necessary arrangements to release him.
Myler described the broader context of the English coaching market, citing recent developments such as Huddersfield’s dismissal of Luke Robinson, the ongoing saga with Brad Arthur at Leeds, and the imminent departure of Willie Peters from Hull KR. He explained that these movements created a narrow window of opportunity for Hull FC to secure a coach of McNamara’s calibre. "I saw a promising assistant at Warrington and didn’t want to miss that chance," Myler said. "If I had let the opportunity slip, the fanbase would have been extremely annoyed, and the club’s future trajectory could have suffered." He further elaborated on the speed of the transition, attributing it to circumstantial pressures rather than a pre‑planned agenda.
"The speed in which it happened was down to circumstance," Myler remarked. "If you look at the market of English coaches at the moment, there were several openings, and we needed to act quickly to secure the right person." Myler also addressed the personal dimension of the decision, acknowledging that John Cartwright was not informed about McNamara’s impending appointment because Myler believed it was not the appropriate moment to disclose that information.
"At that point, John did not know about Steve because I didn’t tell him; I thought it would be unfair to reveal it before we had everything finalized," Myler explained. He admitted that the rapid sequence of events inevitably impacted Cartwright’s position, but maintained that the club’s intention was always to be transparent and honest. In concluding remarks, Myler reiterated the club’s respect for Cartwright’s contributions and its commitment to supporting him through the remainder of his contract.
He also expressed optimism about the future under McNamara, citing his strengths observed during his tenure at Catalans and his potential to bring fresh ideas and a renewed competitive edge to Hull FC. Overall, the CEO’s statements aim to paint a picture of a club navigating a complex coaching landscape, balancing loyalty to a departing coach with the strategic imperative to secure a successor who can drive long‑term success.
The narrative underscores the challenges of managing expectations, contractual obligations, and market dynamics in professional sport, while striving to maintain transparency with fans and stakeholders. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League match live this season, including two exclusive live fixtures each round, with the remaining five games shown weekly on the network.