Ekoku, who cited family reasons for his departure, had only taken the reins in May after replacing long-standing predecessor Mike Rush.

St Helens's Eamonn McManus with former CEO Mike Rush. (Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

The club have appointed Joe Nicholl, a long-standing director of St Helens R.F.C., as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) with particular responsibility for the commercial, financial and operations functions of the club.

Rush, who now has the same role with NRL giants Parramatta Eels, announced that he was leaving the club in mid-February following 27 years of service across a number of departments, but the last 13 as CEO.

Former St Helens Head Coach Paul Wellens in what would be his last game in charge and Chairman of St. Helens RLFC Eamonn McManus (Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

The big changes at Saints began in October of last year when the club announced that Paul Wellens’ contract at the club would not be renewed after three years as head coach.

He had been at the club continuously from young player, club captain and then junior coach, assistant coach before replacing Kristian Woolf in the top job.

In his time as head coach Wellens coached Saints to the World Club Challenge win over Penrith in his first official match in charge, but they failed to reach any of the domestic finals in his time at the helm.

A week or so after Wellens’ departure was announced Saints unveiled former Salford boss Paul Rowley as the new head coach on a three-year deal with a mandate to make changes.

Former St Helens' coach Paul Rowley after his side's loss to Leeds. (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

It did not work and there was a general dissatisfaction among supporters about the style of play and the quality of some of the players.

Poor form, not helped by a shocking injury list, saw Saints’ morale on the pitch and on the terraces go into a downward spiral with the season reaching its nadir with the shocking 46-0 home defeat by Toulouse Olympique on July 12.

Although Saints defeated Catalans the following week, the die had been cast, and Rowley was given the chop later that week and replaced by erstwhile assistant Eamon O’Carroll on an interim basis until the end of last season.

O’Carroll had already announced five weeks earlier that he would be leaving the club – and rugby league – to take up a post with Scarlets.

Subsequently, fellow assistant coach Lee Briers left the club at the end of the season to move to the NRL with Perth Bears.

Incoming is current Australian national team coach Kevin Walters, who has signed a three-year contract at Saints and will arrive in town once his World Cup duties are over.

Australia play New Zealand in the World Cup Final on Sunday.

He will be assisted by another newcomer in former Salford and Huddersfield head coach Ian Watson, who joins from Hull KR.

Watson is taking charge of pre-season matters until Walters arrives – and all the senior squad, bar some of the new imports, returned to training today.

The last year has seen other significant off-field changes with hugely respected long-serving Academy Head Coach Derek Traynor announcing in June that he was leaving his role after more than 30 years at the club.

The following week Saints confirmed that Craig Richards would be stepping up to Head of Rugby (Academy & Pathways), tasked with leading and upgrading all youth and junior development across the club.

Richards and Derek Hardman were joint head coaches of the Saints Women’s team, but it was announced last week that former Saints three-quarter from the 1980s and 90s Alan Hunte was taking up that post.

June also saw the announcement that hugely popular and highly respected head of physio Nathan Mill was leaving and taking up a post at Hull FC.

James Roby. (Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

There have also been a couple of ins and outs from club legend James Roby who announced he was leaving his role as the club's leadership, culture and performance coach.

Although he continued as an ambassador he returned to a different role at club after O’Carroll took the reins in July, giving support and shadowing the interim boss at that time.

And now he has another full-time role at St Helens as its new Partnership Manager (Commercial & Community).

The role will see Roby work across the club’s off-field departments and alongside the Saints Community Development Foundation.

The week prior to the Roby announcement came another appointment with Joey Walsh moving into the newly created position of General Manager of Recruitment & Rugby.

The revolving doors have extended to the playing staff, too.

Agnatius Paasi was first to be released in May, his departure paving the way for fellow prop Daniel Suluka-Fifita to come in.

Another NRL import, winger Kyle Feldt, also departed in June – and although nobody came in from outside, it did facilitate the debut of off-season recruit Jacob Douglas.

At the season’s end it was announced that club legends Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival were hanging up their boots.

Percival had signed a one-year extension in March that would have kept him at Saints until the end of 2027, but announced he was hanging up his boots following a recommendation to undergo a shoulder replacement at the end of the year.

He will take up a post at the club’s community foundation but the full details of that have yet been announced.

It is not inconceivable, too, that Lomax could also return in some capacity given how high a regard the former club captain is held in.

Two of Rowley’s high-profile 2026 recruits – Nene Macdonald and Jackson Hastings – have also departed, but they may not be the last players to leave before the year is out.

Incoming, Saints have brought in half back Sean O’Sullivan, centre Solomona Faataape, wing Christian Tuipulou and hooker Tom Starling but that may not be the end of the recruitment.

It has certainly been a year of revolving doors at the BrewDog Stadium.