BBC wrote:
Ulster Rugby chief executive Michael Reid says "the net will be spread worldwide" in the search for a successor to coach Mark McCall.
"We won't be making a new appointment with undue haste but we will look to have someone in position as soon as practically possible," said Reid.
McCall's assistant Steve Williams will take temporary charge of the team until a permanent appointment is made.
Former Welsh coach Gareth Jenkins may come into the equation for the job.
Jenkins led Llanelli Scarlets to two Heineken Cup semi-finals prior to his appointment to the national job.
Jenkins was dismissed from his position as Wales coach after failing to qualify from the group stages at this year's Rugby World Cup.
Former Ulster coach Alan Solomons, Brian McLaughlin, one of Ireland's assistant coaches, and Andre Bester have also been linked with the job as they are all presently living in the province.
Solomons was coach of Ulster from 2001 to 2004 before leaving for Northampton and is presently in a consultancy role with Belfast Harlequins.
The South African is a top IRB consultant and strategist who oversaw the World Cup preparations of Namibia, Georgia and the USA.
If its not too early, I'd like to throw my hat in the ring.
Contenders and pretenders to the Ulster hot seat
By Hugh Farrelly
Wednesday November 14 2007
Alan Solomons 11/2 (latest odds)
A qualified lawyer, the 55-year-old South African is notable for never having played a game of rugby in his life. Served as assistant coach with South Africa when they won 17 consecutive matches under Nick Mallet before taking the Ulster job in 2001.
He enjoyed mixed success with Ulster, winning the Celtic Cup but failing to achieve Pool qualification in the Heineken Cup. Left to take over at Northampton in 2004 and had a torrid time with the English club where his heavy leaning towards South African players and stringent discipline caused considerable disharmony. Was sacked in November that year after eight successive defeats. Currently working as technical director for the IRB and assisting Andy Ward with the coaching duties at Belfast Harlequins, Favourite for the job.
STEVE WILLIAMS
15/8
A Welshman who won 29 caps as a second row, Williams coached Coventry out of relegation trouble when he took over there in 2004.
The following year became Assistant Forwards Coach at his old club Northampton before taking over at Pertemps Bees at the end of the 2005-06 and moved to the role of Ulster assistant coach this year, now caretaker after McCall's departure. His main experience has been as forwards coach and much will depend on how he goes over the next few weeks.
ANDY WARD
20/1
A New Zealander who arrived in Ireland in the mid-1990s to play for Ballynahinch and never left, Ward is an Ulster legend.
He famously helped Ulster on their way to an epic quarter-final victory over Toulouse in their European Cup-winning year of 1999 before dashing in his gear to the hospital to present for the birth of his son Zac. Won 28 caps as a flanker for Ireland before becoming player coach at Ballynahinch and now at Belfast Harlequins for whom he still lines out at 37. It would be a big step up for Ward but a very popular one within Ulster.
GARETH JENKINS
9/2
Still looking for a job after being axed as Wales coach following their failure to qualify from their World Cup pool, Jenkins has a proven pedigree with Llanelli and assisted with the Lions before getting the Wales gig. Although he endured a torturous spell with Wales, Jenkins is highly regarded and well liked by players -- the best candidate for the Ulster job.
JEREMY DAVIDSON
22/1
Another Ravenhill cult hero, the former Ulster second row is currently assisting at his former club Castres.
His would be a popular appointment but his coaching abilities are not conclusively proven as he had decidedly mixed results during his time with Dungannon when he was unable to string together a consistent run of performers.
AND THE LONG SHOTS . . .
Willie Anderson
Another ex-Ulster lock who had with mixed results as coach of Dungannon. Would love the Ulster gig but has been most successful employing his considerable technical abilities as assistant coach. A forthright character, Anderson's tendency to speak his mind might scare off the Ulster Branch.
Matt Williams
Recently said he was abandoning his coaching career, following a stint in Sydney club rugby. However, Williams likes Ireland and is always attracted by the limelight a job like Ulster would guarantee.
Disastrous with Scotland, he had some big days with Leinster but whether he would uproot his family again is debatable.
-- Hugh Farrelly
“That made me feel very special and underlined to me that Ulster is more than a team, it is a community and a rugby family" Rory Best
LePaul wrote:
Are you for real - would Kidney leave and the Wood - is that Keith Wood by any chance.
Yip Keith was named on Munster official board and some took up that idea, the man has never coached to my knowledge and also has business interests of his own so I tink someone forgot to put their brain in gear.
“That made me feel very special and underlined to me that Ulster is more than a team, it is a community and a rugby family" Rory Best
last time Ulster were searching for a new coach Kidney showed interest in the post but was told in no uncertain terms that he should not apply. Maybe he still fancies it? Tho it would be very hard to imagine him upping and leaving Munster in November.
It would be a big step up for Ward but a very popular one within UlsterIt would be a big step up for Ward but a very popular one within Ulster
That's a bit contentious!!
I think that having tried an inexperienced coach, and it not working out, Ulster will be more inclined to look for a safe pair of hands - so Jenkins or Solomons. I'd like to see Williams in the mix as well.
As Fly Half pointed out on another thread, the uncertainty surrounding EOS complicates matters for the Irish coaches, with Kidney to Ireland a possibility - and I suspect that Bradley would prefer the Munster job.. Otherwise I'd have expected Bradley to have been levered across, assuming that he wanted the job of course..
[The Artist Formerly Known as Caolan]
On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero - Tyler Durden
even more contentious was the line in the Indo which said that the ulster branch would never have a southerner in charge, so Bradley would never get the job!
aarons wrote:even more contentious was the line in the Indo which said that the ulster branch would never have a southerner in charge, so Bradley would never get the job!
Thought that was a disgracefull comment to make aaron
Former coach Alan Solomons is favourite to be approached. Beyond those two candidates, it is hard to see an obvious replacement for McCall. Former Ulster stalwart Andy Ward is player coach with Belfast Harlequins at present and would relish the chance to move up to provincial coaching while Michael Bradley is ripe for a move away from Connacht. However, given the cultural identity of Ulster, the prospects of a southern Irishman getting the job are slim with the Branch almost certain to opt for an Ulsterman or a foreigner.
Gareth Jenkins must be the hot ticket if he is willing to move! I’m also assuming he would be willing to work with Steve Williams.
Solly would be close behind, possibly bringing Matt Sexton with him and maybe even the Reverend in some role.
The IRFU could do worse than appointing a specialist scrummaging coach to work with the provincial props. Robbie could be the man.
YoungMan wrote:Andy Ward 20/1 make the bad men go away ..........................more like 200000/1 more chance of find a double Decker bus on the moon
Last time we took a punt on an inexperienced coach that seemed to have it all except the track record. This time we need someone with a proven record that we could afford.
To me this says Gareth Jenkins all day.
Last time we took a punt on an inexperienced coach that seemed to have it all except the track record. This time we need someone with a proven record that we could afford.
To me this says Gareth Jenkins all day.
