Monday 5 February 2018 11:41, UK
Former England coach Tony Smith has described the appointment of the next Rugby Football League chief executive as "crucial" and insisted he is "not bitter and twisted" about his departure from the sport.
Smith, who was the Super League's longest-serving coach having started in 2009, and Warrington parted ways at the end of a frustrating campaign last year.
The 51-year-old Australian, who had become increasingly critical of the governing body in recent years, is confident that the sport can "become healthier, strong and vibrant again" should the "right person" be recruited after Nigel Wood left his post, after 10 years at the top of the sport, in January.
"Because of how it's been run for the last 10 years or so is probably why I needed to get away from it but it's a great opportunity now for rugby league to kick on and become healthier, strong and vibrant again," Smith said.
"It needs the right person to take it to some good levels again and I'm really hopeful of that. I hope it's a really good appointment because it's crucial.
"I'm not bitter and twisted, I'm just enjoying doing something different. I'll always have an interest in rugby league and I'm grateful for the time that I was involved."
Smith, the former England coach from 2006-09, has set up a consultancy business which is currently centred on a mentoring role with both the Premier League and the League Managers' Association.
"Something I've had a passion for some time is welfare, managerial and staff welfare as well as player welfare," Smith said.
"Last week I spoke to about 30 or 40 managers and coaches in Bristol and I've had various programmes and seminars around the country. I've had a few meetings with Richard Bevan regarding manager welfare.
"There's a lot of focus within all sports nowadays on player welfare but I think, because of some of my experiences, it gives me an insight into the some of pressures and the pitfalls of being in the public eye as a manager."
The two-time Super League champion with Leeds is friends with West Ham coach Stuart Pearce and has admitted he wants to learn about the cultures and pressures of other sports.
"He's now on David Moyes's staff at West Ham," Smith said. "As I left coaching, he got back into it and we joke about swapping roles.
"This year I've probably been to more games of football than I've been to in the last 17 years and I'm really enjoying learning about different cultures.
"I'm no expert on the sport and I don't intend to be. What I'm interested in is the culture and the pressures that are involved.
"I won't limit it to football and at some stage I will go talk to the rugby union, certainly cricket. I'm enjoying it and learning lots."
