Rugby League: Pendlebury's quick return after exit

JOHN PENDLEBURY is back in charge of Halifax after the shortest resignation on record, writes Dave Hadfield.

The former Wigan and Halifax forward yesterday decided to leave the job as coach that he took on at the start of last season, citing a lack of boardroom unity as his reason for doing so.

But the club last night managed to persuade Pendlebury to change his mind. "All is resolved and John is back on board,'' the Halifax football director, Robert Atkinson, said. "Lessons have been learned by all concerned and there is now unity.''

Halifax had appointed their football manager, David Hobbs, and their A team coach, Nicky Kiss, to take charge for Sunday's game at the Bradford Bulls, but Pendlebury will now resume control.

A former player for, among others, Wigan and Halifax, Pendlebury had a difficult introduction, but Halifax have made a respectable start this time, until losing to the previously winless Warrington last Sunday.

For the Bradford match, Halifax will at least have the services of their captain, Karl Harrison. Harrison was found not guilty yesterday for a high tackle for which he was sent off during that match at Warrington.

Jon Roper, the Warrington centre, sent off for a similar offence in the same match, was found to have been punished sufficiently as was Peter Gill, dismissed along with Leeds' Marc Glanville for fighting last Friday.

That leaves Gill free to captain London in place of Terry Matterson, who has decided to stand down, at Huddersfield on Sunday.