Giants promote Kelly to ease strain on boss
HUDDERSFIELD Giants have appointed Andy Kelly to the new role of rugby manager to free up head coach Simon Woolford to concentrate on team matters.
Kelly, 58, has been with the club since 2014 as head of youth and has played a pivotal role in the development of many of the club’s up-andcoming younger Super League squad members.
It comes after a review of the season which saw the Giants avoid relegation from Super League on the final day of the season having won just 11 games.
Kelly’s new role will encompass all operational and logistical issues of every side playing in the Claret and Gold and will run alongside his work in the younger grades.
And that, says Giants managing director Richard Thewlis, will free up Woolford.
“Andy is highly respected throughout our club and the game at large.
“In reviewing our season with (head coach) Simon Woolford it became apparent too much of his time was spent on matters that could be best dealt with by Andy who was in turn looking to widen his involvement with the first team to more than just matchdays.
“The role of rugby manager is a natural fit for Andy and will enable more hands-on coaching and conditioning time for all the first-grade staff.”
And Thewlis says Kelly’s move is the first of several to be announced over the next few weeks as Giants look to turn things around for next season.
“We have already said that we will do all we can off the field to impact what occurs on it and this is the first of a number of announcements that we expect to make in the coming weeks as we reshape on and off the field under Simon’s guidance,” he said.
As a second-rower, Kelly played for Wakefield Trinity and Hull KR, played in a Challenge Cup final and won one England cap.
He has worked as a coach at Wakefield, Gateshead, Featherstone and Dewsbury.
“I think this is a role that we need going forward to improve at the top level and it’s one that I am looking forward to getting stuck into,” he I think this is a role that we need going forward to improve at the top level – it’s one I am looking forward to said. “The logistical side of running clubs is frankly huge and things don’t happen without planning, administration and then action of course which I m keen to get stuck into ahead of the planned return-totrain date in mid-October.
“I will still be overseeing all aspects of the academy now that we have got our structures, staff and procedures in place which I like to think are running well, although we will have some modifications with the advent of reserve grade rugby and lowering of the upper academy age to work through.”
Meanwhile, Giants are thought to be closing in on the signing of Ashton Golding from Leeds.
The Jamaican full-back has played just once for the Rhinos this season and has been out on loan with Featherstone.
Woolford, who is back in Australia, has already added Kenny Edwards to his squad from Catalans Dragons.
HUDDERSFIELD Giants and Huddersfield Giants Community Trust have been helping spread the word over knife crime.
The Trust has delivered a number of assemblies at schools, talking to children about the affects knife crime has on communities across Huddersfield and West Yorkshire.
Pupils have been shown a film featuring club legend Eorl Crabtree and players Suaia Matagi, Jermaine McGillvary and Oliver Roberts talking about the dangers of knife crime and its effect.
Club ambassador Crabtree said: “In this time, with damning knife crime statistics shocking our community, we need to stand together, as role models, and make sure young adults know the risks – knife crime is not a game, and there are no winners.
“We hope it will make a difference to the community we all live in.”