New Coach

[Ethel]

i miss wee Les

[Cornerfleg]

He says he misses yer hobnobs ...

[Dave]

He said you were well stocked with hobnobs...

[Cornerfleg]

But he may have been too drunk to dunk one in his mug ...

[Dave]

By Jonathan Bradley

March 22 2018

Ulster Director of Operations Bryn Cunningham has said an announcement on a new head coach is due in a few weeks.

Earlier this month it was announced Jono Gibbes will head home in the summer, and with Director of Rugby Les Kiss already having left this year, there is leadership void to be filled, with Cunningham revealing they are in the process of deciding upon a shortlist.

Plenty of names have been mooted already, including former Connacht and Edinburgh man Michael Bradley, now of Zebre, but Cunningham added that nobody has yet been approached.

"We're not at that point yet," he said. "We're having to try and move as quickly as we can in the coaching department without making any knee-jerk reactions, so at the moment we're just trying to shortlist with the IRFU and then we'll move to a position of trying to interview and, hopefully, we'll be in a position to make an announcement."

With the province struggling to make the PRO14 play-offs for the second season in a row, and now unsure if they'll even be playing in the Champions Cup next year, it is an appointment that the powers-that-be cannot afford to get wrong.

A rebuild is required and it's imperative that the right man, and one with the stomach for a fight, is at the helm.

Cunningham admitted it's a balance between taking the time to decide upon the best candidate and acting before he is snapped up by somebody else.

"You want to make sure that you don't lose any options so you want to move relatively quickly and obviously each individual will be in a slightly different position. They may be under intense pressure to re-sign where they currently are or there may be competing clubs looking for the same position so yeah we can't hang around for too long.

"We're fortunate enough in that the number of coaches that we looked at at the present, nobody has gone off the radar."

Good to see that the radar is still being used.

[Rooster]

Hope they did a bit of tuning to the radar, wouldn't want them picking up the dummy in Elon Musks roadster any trying to catch him on the way past

[222toHounslow]

I’m throwing my hat into the ring.

Malone first to go, followed quickly by The Brass Bellends, Subway man and all hope of ever being the best club side in the world.

You know where I am Bryn.

[TopPoster]

I’m throwing my hat into the ring.

Malone first to go, followed quickly by The Brass Bellends, Subway man and all hope of ever being the best club side in the world.

You know where I am Bryn.

If Carlsberg did Ulster Rugby......

[Cornerfleg]

Well they certainly sell enough tins to our young "stars" ...

[222toHounslow]

Nick Kennedy has resigned from Plastics as DOR.

Surely not UR bound?

[Rovi Snave]

Nick Kennedy has resigned from Plastics as DOR.

Surely not UR bound?

Kennedy appoints Declan Kidney and Les Kiss then jumps ship

The man has a great sense of humour!!!

[Amiga500]

Hope they did a bit of tuning to the radar, wouldn't want them picking up the dummy in Elon Musks roadster any trying to catch him on the way past

The radar range is only around 7 miles or so...

[Deraless]

Bradley -I doubt if Ulster would even accept his application , his CV lacks sufficient success in the many appointments he has had .

A journeyman coach for middle of the road teams with limited ambition and fundamental need .

While Ulster’s needs may be fundamental I doubt if the IRFU would settle for limited ambition in the long term or short term - arses on seats requires success at PRO14 and ERC .

Two provinces ( Munster and Connaught ) require substantial central subsidies to exist a third province drawing heavily would not suit D4 at all with the Union having to invest in the RDS.




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I think you may have put up several good reasons why he will end up here lol


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[Cockatrice]

They will have the answers in a few short weeks this despite the process not really starting... it likely to hit all sorts of potential contract issues.. the huge interest being shown.. and us not being in any rush ... early reports on the world renowned radar has highlighted that Kiss is available and is still the number one coach in world rugby period...

[Deraless]

Have hundreds of people not already been banging down the door?

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