Good news expected on Wednesday as Noble and Sharp lined up

The Crusaders are set to call a press conference at the Celtic Manor Hotel on Wednesday afternoon. Some big news is expected regarding the club’s immediate future – and reports suggest that officials could be set to unveil Brian Noble and Jon Sharp as the high-profile new management duo of the Saders.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting some positive news since the season came to an end at Castleford and John Dixon ended his four-year tenure in South Wales.

However, whilst other clubs were strengthening their ranks ahead of next summer's campaign, things were very quiet at Cru as the club prepares to switch the Brewery Field for Rodney Parade next year.

The supporters, however, were comforted by speculation that Noble was set to replace Dixon as manager of the club. Wigan's involvement in the play-offs thus explained the lack of activity and once the Warriors were out of the picture, then good news would be just around the corner. We hoped.

Brave Wigan crashed out of the play-offs at the semi-finals at Wigan and, as expected, Noble duly announced that he'd be moving on. It was clear that this had been planned for some while as the DW Stadium club quickly confirmed that Australian Michael Maguire would be stepping in as new boss.

Noble, who was unfortunate not to lead Wigan all the way to the Grand Final, remained tight-lipped on speculation that he was set to swap the game's heartlands for the unfamiliar surroundings of South Wales. However, the newspapers remained certain that the former GB coach was on his way to the Principality, hoping to change the fortunes of Super League's newest club.

Noble's appointment is now expected to be confirmed on Wednesday - and he could be bringing Sharp, the ex-head coach of Huddersfield Giants, with him. Noble is expected to take the Director of RL role, with Sharp taking up a prominent coaching position.

Should the 48-year-old Noble be appointed Cru supremo this week, he will bring a wealth of experience with him. Having represented Bradford Northern, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Wakefield Trinity and Great Britain as a player, he has proved a successful and well-respected coach of the Bulls, Warriors and GB.

Nobby won three World Club Championships at Bradford, though he didn't emulate that success at Wigan.

Sharp, meanwhile, would also bring experience and great contacts to South Wales. He was appointed head coach of Huddersfield in 2004 and led them to the Challenge Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1971 in his first year and to the final at Twickenham in 2006. He was eventually sacked after a dismal start to the 2008 campaign and was recently involved with the Hull FC set-up before leaving over the summer.

Noble and Sharp worked together in the Great Britain coaching set-up.

Both appointments would mark tremendous coups for the club. With a new coaching team, new players, a new badge, a new name and a new stadium in the pipeline, this is almost a completely fresh start for the club. With two respected, experience coaches on board, you get the impression that if the Crusaders don't improve next season, then Rugby League may never be a success in South Wales.

Let's hope this news is confirmed on Wednesday. It could really put the sport on the map in Wales.