No Tigers return for Raper but Hay linked with top job

THERE is mounting speculation that Hull FC assistant coach Andy Hay has left his position at the KC Stadium.

The club will not comment on the matter but a statement is expected over the weekend.

If Hay has, as understood, been relieved of duties at the East Yorkshire outfit he will be hoping to advance his case for the vacant Castleford Tigers head coach role.

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The former Great Britain second-row, 39, had been assistant to Castleford chief Terry Matterson until the Australian headed home at the end of 2011.

Hay duly took up a position as Peter Gentle’s No 2 at Hull.

When asked earlier this month if he expected Hay to go for the Castleford role, Gentle said there had been no indication that would be the case.

Tigers are currently interviewing candidates after they sacked Ian Millward nearly three weeks ago.

They have turned down an offer from former coach Stuart Raper – who was in charge of Castleford from 1997-2001 – to return from Australia and assist caretaker boss Danny Orr in the interim.

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Tigers chief executive Steve Gill said: “We thought long and hard about Stuart Raper’s offer to work with Danny until the end of the season. However we’ve decided not to go down that route.

“I think the financial outlay that would have been required to bring Stuart over could be used more wisely on a long-term appointment.

“We’re progressing with our search, have a total of 10 applicants to date and we’re busy assessing and meeting them.”

Gill has expressed his desire to appoint a British coach and former Castleford players John Kear, now in charge of Batley, and Hay have been linked with the vacancy, along with Featherstone coach Daryl Powell, Huddersfield deputy Kieron Purtill and Leeds Rhinos assistant James Lowes.

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Meanwhile, Hull have released Danny Nicklas from his contract so he can join York City Knights on a permanent basis until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old, who had made just 10 Super League appearances over the last four years at his hometown club, had been playing for the Championship side on a dual-registration basis.

York coach Gary Thornton said: “I’m surprised he hasn’t really had an opportunity at Hull but their loss is definitely our gain.

“I think the writing was on the wall when he was left out of a depleted Hull team just before our game with Keighley, which perhaps explained his performance that day.

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“But Peter Gentle has a job to do there much like I do here and Danny respects that.”

Nicklas is now eligible to play in their Challenge Cup fifth round game at Catalan Dragons which has been confirmed for Sunday May 12, (3pm).

Huddersfield Giants’ former Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden, 33, is expected to be sidelined for several weeks after gaining a knee infection following surgery.