Wakefield enlist Kear to lead bid for survival

Wakefield have turned to John Kear as the coach to save them from relegation. Kear, who won the Challenge Cup with Sheffield and Hull, has been appointed for the last six games of the Super League season, with Trinity two points adrift of Wigan in the battle to avoid the drop.

"It's obviously a massive challenge, but one that I'm relishing," said the 51-year-old Kear, who was sacked by Hull earlier this season. "The raw talent in the club indicates that they can perform and put a string of victories together."

Wakefield are known to have talked to Ian Millward and James Lowes about the job, either before or after the exit of Tony Smith last week, and were linked with Dean Sampson when he resigned at the weekend as Hull KR's assistant.

But the Wakefield chief executive, Steve Ferres, said yesterday: "John was an obvious candidate. He has an enormous wealth of experience and proven success at the highest level."

Kear's first game in charge will be against Castleford on 6 August.

The Great Britain stand-off, Danny McGuire, is a severe doubt for Leeds' Challenge Cup semi-final against Huddersfield on Sunday. McGuire limped out of the game against St Helens with a shin injury and he said yesterday: "My chances are not so good at the moment."