DISAPPOINTED McLAUGHLIN COMMITTED IN FULL TO ROLE
BEHIND the obvious disappointment of having to stand down as head coach of Ulster Rugby at the end of the current season, Brian McLaughlin remains as committed as ever to ensuring the club enjoys similar, if not further success than last year.
It was confirmed yesterday that McLaughlin would be taking up a senior coaching position in the Ulster Academy as part of the club’s long-term vision for the future.
Ulster Rugby were unable to announce who the successor would be yesterday, but are actively involved in discussions and negotiations with a number of different candidates.
Following media speculation last week regarding McLaughlin’s future with the club, it was left to Ulster Rugby director of rugby operations, David Humphreys, to face the Press yesterday and confirm the current head coach would be stood down at the end of the current season to take up a new role.
“I can confirm that Brian will remain in a senior coaching position at the club, moving to work with Gary Longwell (current High Performance Manager) in our Academy on a permanent basis.
“Prior to Christmas, Brian and I discussed his coaching position and he was aware that we were considering a number of different coaching options for next season.
“Traditionally, the two-week break between the Heineken Cup pool stages and the resumption of the PRO12 has been the time when staff and players who are out of contract at the end of the season, are advised of their contractual position for the following season.”
It was revealed that when McLaughlin agreed the one-year extension to his previous two-year deal approximately a year ago, he also accepted a permanent coaching position at the club.
McLaughlin, who had taken a previous sabbatical from his teaching job at Royal Belfast Academical Institution to be Ireland skills coach, took a second sabbatical to take up a two-year coaching role with Ulster, but had to resign his position as head of PE. And last year he resigned from teaching to continue to follow his professional coaching career.
Humphreys said: “The option of the Academy role offered Brian long-term stability and the security to leave his teach job in order to coach full-time.”
The decision, which was taken by Ulster Rugby’s professional game board and not the IRFU, to appoint a new head coach and move McLaughlin into a new role with the Ulster Academy was, Humphreys said, part of the vision for the long-term future of Ulster Rugby.
McLaughlin’s success with Ulster this season in attaining back-to-back quarter-finals in Europe and keeping the club on course to make the playoffs in the PRO12 gave rise to speculation that he would be offered a further one-year extension to his contract. Instead, he finds himself not being given the opportunity to continue in a role he believes he can deliver in.
While acknowledging that he was grateful to Ulster to have a safety net others in his position would not have, McLaughlin did not hide his disappointment at not being considered again to continue in the head coach’s role.
“To be honest, I am a bit disappointed, because I was not expecting to have to use the safety net just quite so quickly,” he said.
“...The situation is that I feel I have been successful, I have taken the team forward and yes, I am disappointed that I am not being able to take it to another level.”
It is important to be clear that McLaughlin has NOT been sacked by his employers at Ravenhill and he did describe his move as “basically a sideways one.”
“I am an employee of Ulster and I am disappointed that I am not being offered the chance to continue in this current post. But from my point of view I have what other coaches do not in this position, a safety net.”
While yesterday’s media conference was never going to be anything other than awkward for both McLaughlin and Humphreys, one thing was clear - they both wanted the team to end the year with success.
Humphreys acknowledged that McLaughlin had brought Ulster well down the path the club wanted and pointed out that when a one-year extension was agreed last year, those making the appointment believed he could win the European Cup and take the club to the top of the PRO12
“We all hope Brian is able to move off with the credibility of being a European Cup winner,” added Humphreys.
McLaughlin added: “Yes, I am disappointed, but I have the rest of the season to consider now.
“I see a huge challenge ahead in both the RaboDirect PRO12 and the Heineken Cup. I have no doubt my squad and the coaching staff will do me proud and make sure I leave this job successful and looking forward to my new role.
“I have to deal with what has happened and that is important. The players have got to be left to do what they do best and that is play.
“It is something I have to deal with and I have to make sure they (the players) are in the right place to perform at the optimum level which hopefully will be as David has said a semi-final in the PRO12 and to progress further in Europe to get to that top table.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
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Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
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