THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

SRU chief McKie on the state of the Union

By DAVID FERGUSON
THE support of players was a key factor in the SRU's decision to retain Frank Hadden as the national coach, but Gordon McKie also made it clear yesterday that the board had insisted he must have Andy Robinson and Sean Lineen providing coaching input if he was to take Scotland forward.
Speaking at a media briefing at Murrayfield, the SRU's chief executive expanded on the review process that led the executive board to change the assistant coaches, but keep the head coach after another disappointing RBS Six Nations Championship.

ADVERTISEMENTIt has come under criticism, notably from the Friends of Scottish Rugby Forum, a supporters group that called for a more independent system of appraisal.

McKie insisted that he would not accept mediocrity from Scottish teams and was convinced in March that change had to be made, but he denied that he had made no discernible difference by effectively dropping only George Graham, the forwards coach, from the management team.

He said: "I don't accept that. We believe Frank is the man to lead the national team at this time, but we have injected a new coaching set-up, and Andy and Sean have first-hand knowledge of many of the players in the tour squad.

"The coaching team had been together for some time and things like complacency, the predictability of drills and training sometimes can set in, and it was also felt that the change should not be restricted to the coaching side, but in areas such as physio, succession planning, performance plan and strength and fitness. The issue of change was not necessarily individual-related, but a wider desire to freshen up the national coaching team.

"We believe that Frank has the support of the players, and while that's not reason in itself for retaining him we believe that by injecting new coaching ideas and methods with Frank continuing to lead it that that is the right blend for us three weeks before we get on the plane to Argentina."

As for the process itself, McKie dismissed the suggestion that it was flawed because the head coach was at the centre of the review.

"The board reviews the national coach's progress, based on a review carried out by me," he explained. "Frank contributes to that process, but that doesn't mean to say it ends based on his input.

"The review process is widened, which entails interviewing other members of the national management team, as well as players, and I spoke to a lot of people I don't plan to name who officially and unofficially gave me their views which enabled me to form a picture of how we performed, which, in turn, was put in front of the board, who then agreed that changes were necessary.

"I feel that's a workable way to review it. We believe the dressing-room is solidly behind Frank at this point in time because I speak to players regularly, and I think they trust me sufficiently that if they were not happy then, as I've had to deal with in the past here, I'd deal with it. There are other ways to review the national team over and above Frank's view."

We would not be drawn on any mid or long-term plans, stating only that another review would be held after the tour. This has led some commentators to suggest that Hadden's future as national coach could depend purely on winning the two Test matches in Argentina, but McKie rejected that theory.

"Argentina is important and let's not under-estimate the challenge. They are ranked third in the world and we're going there with a somewhat depleted squad, but what is important is that we go there and put in two good performances.

"It would be nice to win one of the Test matches, fantastic to win both, but we must go there and compete and come back viewing the tour to have been positive.

"We will carry out a review after June. We were all very disappointed by what happened in the Six Nations. I can't accept mediocrity and it's important that we feel the team can go forward and reclaim a top eight place.

"That's not the be-all and end-all this year, but it is important to us because of the World Cup seedings in December."

The obvious question now is how much credit Hadden would receive if the team did reach somewhere nearer to their potential in South America, and win there for the first time, with such well-known coaches as Robinson and Lineen now being more heavily involved.

McKie replied: "I get credit for having good financial numbers, but I've got a very capable financial director. For me, if you surround yourself with good people you get the credit and the same should apply to the national coach – if he surrounds himself with good people he should get the credit."

It is clear that Hadden had little choice, but to move in the new deputies, but the simple hope of McKie and all connected with Scottish rugby now is that the new triumvirate, with their various specialist advisers, can spark a more successful period for the Scotland team, whoever is in charge.

This article was posted on 9-May-2008, 09:27 by Hugh Barrow.