Jon Wilkin says Lee Radford has “arranged a job elsewhere”

A lot of talk this week has been surrounding the Castleford Tigers and the exit of Lee Radford.

The former head coach at the Jungle departed by ‘mutual consent’ just three games into the new season after losing every game at the start of the 2023 campaign.

Though him leaving shocked many, it was the statement that left many head scratching with Radford adding in that he left due to he and the club going in ‘different directions’.

What exactly was meant by this remains to be seen but Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin believes he may have the answer.

Speaking in the build up to Castleford’s match at Huddersfield, their first since Radford’s sacking, Wilkin believes the former boss already has a new coaching gig in the pipeline.

“They lost three at the start of this year but they won two out of their last ten if you look into the back end of last year, so their form has been sketchy,” said Wilkin.

“I honestly believe that Lee Radford had a job elsewhere, that he’d arranged a job elsewhere. The club under contract negotiations have got a decision to make right now, whether they give somebody else a chance like Andy Last.

“I just believe that contract negotiations between Lee Radford and the club either stalled or never got started this year. Three games in it seems early but I think there’s a bigger part in play.”

Radford’s former assistant Andy Last is now in interim charge but despite putting his hand up for the job already, it appears the Tigers may be looking elsewhere in a complete shake-up.

Last’s first game in the hot seat did not go to plan with Castleford losing heavily against Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium.