Benji wrote: I dont go with the the crap about he was holding out for the Irish Job.

On the contrary, I think that has a huge bearing. This has all come about in the last few weeks (if we believe what Bristol & Connacht said yesterday, I have no reason not to). If Schmidt had left there was no other credible candidate for Irish coach in the system - Farrell & Erasmus are a wet week in the door, and Easterby & Kiss have proven themselves not to be head-man material at Scarlets and Ulster respectively.

Once Joe stayed you had the extremely capable and ambitious Lam effectively barred from promotion for 3-4 years. Any of us would change employer in that situation too.

Edit: Georrrrrrrrge Hook thinks the same, so ignore what I just said

The offer that was made to Lam was too good to refuse. Sure its going to be a challenge with Bristol but he will have the money behind him and a great salary. I dont go with the the crap about he was holding out for the Irish Job.
It was nice while it lasted , I was hoping that his family were settled well in Galway and that would have kept him but money talks.

As for Bundi and Dillane this happens all the time and they are professionals

Think we'll be seeing AJ in Bristol then? Pat said he would "come and get him".

Thanks for the memories...

Aki and Dillane in particular can't be too happy at this news. They signed on again essentially with Lam, so news of his unexpected departure will cause some strife, hence Bundi's tweet from yesterday.

I think we can now say "This concludes the recruitment for the 2016/2017 season". Hopefully it won't affect the re signing of existing players.

Gutted as everyone that Pat is on the move to Bristol. Hoped he'd be around another year or two. He's really brought Connacht to a new more respectable lever in short order so I can't get too mad at his leaving. But this very disappointing.

Definitely think Carolan could do the job, but I wonder if he has the name recognition to bring in the bigger name players.

I wonder how long Bundee assumed or was led to believe Pat would be around during his contract talks? Is he just pissed Pat's leaving or does he feel let down? Hope the news doesn't throw him or any of the other players off their game for these important upcoming matches.

This might sound odd and I know Pat Lam has been great for Connacht but if Nigel Carolan takes over I'd be more worried about finding someone as competent at scouting and spotting talented players and young player development.

Wasn't expecting it so soon, but Pat has always made it clear he was here to do a job and then move on..
We should take it as a compliment he feels its okay to go.
We've reached heights we didn't think we'd see so soon and we intend to keep climbing.
We need to make our voices heard on Sunday and let the lads know that we're alway Connacht..
faces change... Green remains..

Thanks Pat, the journey continues..

If they don't look to Nigel Carolan; Rob Penny would be my 1st choice & Bernard Jackman 2nd.

connachta wrote: Being favorite to become the next Irish Coach in 2020 may compensate

McCall is clearly a good coach but buying success while running up a debt greater than the annual turnover of the IRFU is hardly the best preparation for coaching Connacht. We'll be looking for Mad Bernie next, sure he won/bought everything with Toulon.

When we hockey Saracens in the quarter finals I feel he will think the job is to big for him ...... kinda like David Moyes taking over from Alex Ferguson . I wish !!

Being favorite to become the next Irish Coach in 2020 may compensate

€€€€€€€€€€€€€€
I fear he will be out of our league.

I can't beleive no-one's talking about the best Irish coach out-of-contract this summer : Mark McCall from Saracens

Tall Paul wrote: I know we have a few signed up like bundi and Dillane, what about Mc carty and Jake H etc

Pat has done so much for us, not only at a skills level but in the confidence he has instilled in the lads to not be afraid to try things.
Bet the two lads are not all that happy if Bundi tweets this morning are anything to go by.

Forgot to thank Pat for the good times.

I think we need a NZ coach, if we want to sign up and coming players and keep the NZ crew we have.

Please do not steal our players Pat.

I know we have a few signed up like bundi and Dillane, what about Mc carty and Jake H etc