Former London Broncos one-man band Tony Rea has insisted axed head coach Rob Powell still has a part to play at the club.
 

Rea – who was famously a player, coach and chief executive in 13 years with the club – has answered chairman David Hughes’ cry for help in a bid to reverse the club’s ailing fortunes.
 

The 45-year-old will be interim head coach for the remaining seven games of the campaign, starting with Saturday’s visit of losing Challenge Cup semi-finalists Wigan Warriors.
 

Powell was sacked on Monday after a disastrous start to his second season in charge, which sees Broncos in the Super League’s bottom-three, with only three wins.
 

And Rea, most recently head coach at Australian rugby union side the Brumbies following the dismissal of former Harlequins coach Andy Friend, is out to bring a smile to the faces of the battle weary Broncos – with the help of Powell.
 

“I always check the Broncos’ results. Being down in Australia there are a lot of ex-players,” he said.
 

“The network’s still strong here and we spend a fair bit of time ringing each other and talking about the club.
 

“I want to get people to enjoy playing again. It’s not about tactics, coaching or structure but belief and morale, making sure people reconnect.
 

“Knowing the people who support the club I want to validate their decision and help get them to be the club they want to be and Rob will be included in that.”
 

Powell joined the club in January 2007 as an assistant coach and took over the top job in November 2010 following Brian McDermott’s move to Leeds Rhinos.
 

The club announced they were conducting an internal performance review earlier this year and Hughes admitted it was time to act and that a permanent head coach would be in place in time for next season.
 

“We had to make changes because our performances were unacceptable,” he said.
 

“This is a result of our mid-season internal review with other findings due to be concluded soon.
 

“We are advertising for a new head coach, both in the UK and worldwide, with a view to him being in place for pre-season on November 1.
 

“Rob is still part of the team and we hope he will work with Tony for the remainder of the season.
 

“He will have a job with the club going forward in some capacity.
 

“Obviously his specific role will be dependant on the new head coach.
 

“Rob is important to the development side of the club, along with Phil Jones, and is a valued member of staff.
 

“I have had regular contact with Tony and he feels for the club. I’m pleased that he has been able to come over and help us out at this time.”
 

Rea first joined the club in December 1994 and made 47 appearances at hooker over the next two years before retiring at the end of the first Super League season in 1996.
 

He became chief executive, but at the end of the 2000 season he took over as head coach and took the Broncos to the play-offs in 2003 and 2005.