23 Facts About Ian Millward

Ian Millward is the former head coach of Wigan, St Helens, Leigh and Castleford.

Ian Millward was in charge at Wigan from May 2005, his appointment coming just two weeks after an acrimonious departure from the club's fiercest rivals, St Helens.

Ian Millward lasted one and a half seasons at Castleford before leaving half-way through the 2013 season.

Ian Millward was born in Wollongong, New South Wales, and played rugby league for Illawarra Steelers lower grades in his youth, after impressing for the state's schoolboys team.

Ian Millward turned to coaching, taking up a position with Illawarra Western Suburbs.

Ian Millward soon transformed Leigh from relegation candidates to promotion contenders, catching the eye of a number of Super League clubs in the process.

Ian Millward moved to St Helens in March 2000 after the sacking of Ellery Hanley.

Ian Millward took St Helens to the 2002 Super League Grand Final which they won against the Bradford Bulls.

In 2001 Ian Millward was named Super League Coach of the Year.

Ian Millward repeated the trick in another match against Bradford over Easter 2004, claiming a heavy fixture burden had taken its toll.

Ian Millward was sacked for gross misconduct a week later, his offences including three incidences of foul and abusive language: to a club employee; Warrington's press officer; and a fourth official at a match against Bradford.

St Helens claimed that Ian Millward lied to an RFL disciplinary hearing and distorted the truth about the club's sale of Gleeson to Warrington in 2004.

Ian Millward will be leaving the club and team affairs will be managed in the short term by the assistant coaches Stuart Wilkinson and Andrew Farrar.

Ian Millward enjoyed some time away from rugby league after being sacked by Wigan but later in 2006 he returned to the club where he started his English coaching career to become coaching co-ordinator at National League One side Leigh Centurions.

Ian Millward worked as a co-presenter on rugby league matches shown on Sky Sports or BBC.

In 2007 Ian Millward was appointed the assistant coach at National Rugby League side North Queensland Cowboys.

Ian Millward was appointed as assistant coach to David Furner at the Canberra Raiders on a two-year contract from 2009.

On 30 June 2009 it was announced that Ian Millward would be re-joining Championship side Leigh Centurions in England from 2010.

Ian Millward signed a three-year contract after Canberra agreed to release Ian Millward from his contract.

Ian Millward took over from Terry Matterson as the coach of Castleford starting for the 2012 season he has signed a 3-year deal to stay with the club.

Ian Millward was released by Castleford Tigers by mutual consent on 9 April 2013 after a very poor run of just one win in 18 games and with the team at the bottom of the Super League table at the time.

In 2014, Ian Millward returned to Australia to coach the Illawarra Cutters NSW Cup team, replacing former Steelers centre Paul McGregor as coach.

Ian Millward has worked as a TV pundit for the Super League Show broadcast on the BBC and has featured as a summariser at televised games.