TONY Smith is backing Richard Agar to get the most out of Wolves’ players next season.

The former Wakefield, Hull FC, York and France boss will join as assistant coach in November, satisfying a desire to work with a consistently successful team rather than heading up rebuilding operations that he has experienced most recently.

“With the people he’s had, he’s been able to get a lot out of the teams he’s worked with and I admire that – and I look forward to working with him,” said Smith.

“Richard is somebody I’ve admired for a long time, I’ve known for a long time and he’s been able to withstand some of the toughest tests and still do a good job.

“At times there needs to be a freshness of ideas coming into a club, and getting different viewpoints can contribute to your progression.

“Richard has those abilities to bring new ideas to the organisation. Some freshness in the coaching ranks is important.”

Despite most recently being a number one at Wakefield, Smith is confident Agar will welcome the transition to assistant at Wolves.

“Richard’s one of those characters who doesn’t have to be head of the organisation to feel like he’s doing a good job,” he added.

“He’s got the ability to step back into that position, but he’s happy to work alongside. It’ll certainly be my name on the door and he’ll have a big say on how things operate.

“In terms of views and opinions it’s often my name on behalf of the whole coaching staff, so that won’t change too much in the future.”

With two coaches, Willie Poching and Richard Marshall, leaving and one coming in, Smith expects to be more involved in coaching but admits not a great deal will change.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have two assistant coaches for the past couple of years but it won’t change things,” he explained. “I do a bit of coaching and I do a bit of overseeing and those things will continue.

“I may have some opportunity to do a little more hands-on coaching in some skilled areas that at times have been handed over to assistant coaches, but things won’t change too drastically.”