EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN
EDINBURGH Rugby are looking outwith Scotland for a new coach, who should be in place by the end of next month, according to SRU chief executive Gordon McKie.

The search for a successor to Todd Blackadder, who returned to his native New Zealand after last Friday's concluding Celtic League clash with Leinster, is set to go into overdrive with McKie admitting no home-based candidates fitted the bill.

Edinburgh have already re-advertised the post after a previous sweep produced no suitable candidates.

McKie, who had earlier revealed that Edinburgh had "two, possibly three" potential coaches "on hold" added: "None of the candidates are currently working in Scotland.

"Just as player development has not been particularly well planned, we have not been growing our coaches. We just can't expect someone to become a head coach and fulfil the task although Todd did very well.

"The guys come back to training in mid-July so we need to clarify the situation within the next three to four weeks."

The search is going on against a background of uncertainty whereby unless suitable investment is found the number of pro-teams, currently three, may be cut and this might have a bearing on future appointment, McKie said.

"It is a matter of whether it is two or three teams we have; we have to keep plates spinning.

"There are a few things that will suddenly drop (into place) once we know what we are doing."

One candidate whose hat is already in the ring is former Celtic Warriors and Welsh tour guru Lyn Howells although he is believed to have further contract options at Italian side, Leonessa.

Meanwhile, McKie has moved to quell uncertainty over the Gunners by insisting he expected them to be retained because of their location at the heart of the Scottish rugby base. He said that while there had been no specific inquiries about Edinburgh, two potential investors were open-minded about which of the three teams up for grabs he might be prepared to underwrite.

Out of 11 preliminary inquiries, the SRU have narrowed the number of suitors with the apparent credentials to four.

As well as hunting down a coach, the SRU are also committed to finding new sponsors on the club front after one of the game's worst kept secrets that BT would not be involved next season was confirmed.

This article was posted on 31-May-2006, 11:30 by Hugh Barrow.