Remarkably, ex-Wakefield head coach Chris Chester was set to sign a new deal before he was sacked.
The former Hull KR boss had verbally agreed a new contract, but Sunday’s loss to Huddersfield – in which Wakefield let an 18-0 lead slip – convinced CEO Michael Carter and the rest of the Trinity board to cut their losses.
Willie Poching has been made interim boss, with Trinity second bottom with just four wins from 17 games.
Carter was honest about the situation: “We’d had some talks about it and we’d got to an understanding of agreeing an extension.
“It wasn’t the reported two-year deal that had been on social media but we had got to an understanding on it.
“But I think the events since Sunday, in particular, have overridden that. They snowballed.
“But I have assured Chris that what we had verbally agreed I will honour.
“We’ll do the right thing by Chris as he has never done anything other than the right thing by me.”
Within a minute, someone had called up Carter to ask about the head coach vacancy, and the CEO explained the cutthroat business of rugby league.
“He knows it’s a result driven business and ultimately whatever the reasons behind some of the results we’ve still only won four games out of 17 this season,” said Carter.
“He understands that that’s sport and he’s a head coach and he has to live and die by the results that come through.
“In the fullness of time, it might come as something of a relief as I know some of the things that he has had to put up with over the last two and half years and they are not pleasant.”
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