By Ray French

What does the future hold for Leeds following the news that Daryl Powell is to stand down as coach and stars Chev Walker and Ryan Bailey will spend the next few months in a young offenders' institute?

The decision to hand Tony Smith the coaching reins for two seasons, allowing Powell to return to the helm in 2006, is strange to say the least.

Daryl Powell's power-sharing initiative with Smith may backfire

Rhinos fans of a nervous disposition need only look across the Pennines to discover what might be in store.

Within days of announcing that coach Stuart Raper would depart the club at the end of the season, Wigan had suffered a shock defeat to Widnes, prompting the Warriors to part company with Raper ahead of schedule.

How will Powell react to the daily grind of coaching and preparing the team for an assault on the Tetley's Super League title when he knows that, whatever he achieves this season, the pressure will be off in 2004?

How will the players react to the news that, however they perform for Powell, the man they will eventually have to satisfy is running another club a few miles along the M62?

And what will happen should the Rhinos meet the Giants in the Super League play-offs!

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington admits his plans for the future are "unconventional".

But will they be too revolutionary for a sport that tends to move forward along tried and trusted methods?

There is little doubt that, at Wigan, news of Raper's departure did unsettle the players and, not least, the management.

Chev Walker brought youthful power and sheer exuberance

If, as some expect, the impending arrival of Smith and the temporary elevation of Powell has a similar unsettling effect at Headingley, then Hetherington's daring gamble will come under intense fire from the faithful on the terraces.

Much is at stake for a club which, despite being one of the best-supported, richest and most powerful clubs in the game, fails to realise its potential season after season.

As for Walker and Bailey, their loss will prove to be a huge handicap as the high-flying Rhinos attempt to win their first league title in 30 years.

Though Leeds have plenty of experience for the final run-in, they will lack the youthful power and the sheer exuberance these two youngsters provide.

But it is the unusual power-sharing initiative involving Powell and Smith that will give supporters most cause for concern.

And with three months of the season still to run, the consequences could be felt sooner rather than later.