AS the Wilderspool ship hit more turbulent waters at the weekend, Warrington's board of directors were left questioning yet another of their failed signings.

In 18 months, the club has unveiled an abundance of supposedly top appointments, hailing them 'saviours,' only to release them before they had time to settle into their new roles.

John Dorahy is merely the latest in a long line of staff to be shown the door.

This recent avalanche of exits began after the historic 80-0 defeat at St. Helens in December 1995.

That nightmare evening brought an end to the nine-year reign of coach Brian Johnson.

His assistant, Clive Griffiths, soon followed, considered to be the wrong man to replace him.

Players like Manoa Thompson, Mike Ford and Dave King soon followed under the early days of messers Dorahy and Murphy.

Scrum half Willie Swann and hooker Kris Watson arrived, only to be booted out within 12 and six months respectively.

Prop forward Mark Jones was released after just over a year with the club. He went back home to Wales, where another Warrington hero, Jonathan Davies, had already returned.

Former Great Britain hooker Martin Dermott was signed up in the last close season but was shown the door after only three appearances, one of which won him the man of the match award.

Tongan speedster Mateaki Mafi joined him, considered not good enough for Super League after 15 months at Wilderspool.

And the world's most highly rated player, stand off Iestyn Harris, is also on his way out.

But it is not only on the pitch where Warrington's signings have failed.

In 1996, the club stepped up its commercial activities with the appointment of marketing manager John Fillingham and marketing executive Elaine Mitchinson.

Both have since departed after less than a year at the club.

And chief executive Graham Armstrong, a summer signing in 1995, was sacked in April last year to be replaced by John Smith.

Now, Dorahy and conditioner Nigel Ashley Jones are the latest victims at a club which seems incapable of finding the stability it needs to move forward into a major Rugby League force.

Who will be next?

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.