A bit strange that there's no chat of a replacement yet. It'd suggest a) the sacking was a recent decision and no replacement is lined up or b) there is a replacement lined up and they're still involved in Europe/domestic league.

I'd like to think it's b as it would suggest some sort of planning was going on

www.punditarena.com/rugby/smcmahon/let-h...tter_impression=true

Interesting. You would have thought if the players were kicking up, Mul would be aware & by and large be the conduit to the hierarchy? Suggests, to me at least, that it could have been a breakdown within the coaching ticket.....???

pinky wrote: Linley's take on it: www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/100393/...cht-cut-his-contract
I'm confused by the talk of this being a done deal for months. If so, why would they not have used the much publicised six month release clause and saved themselves a bunch of cash?

I'd guess that even if they had decided six months ago, with all the player contract negotiations to get through they didn't want those affected by the uncertainty felt during Lam's final year.
Not so much the lads in camp, but the targets from outside...

pinky wrote: I suppose there is also the possibility that it was mutually agreed months ago and KK is happy enough with it all.

Seems unlikely given both his and Carty's post match interviews.

I suppose there is also the possibility that it was mutually agreed months ago and KK is happy enough with it all.

pinky wrote: If so, why would they not have used the much publicised six month release clause and saved themselves a bunch of cash?

I'd imagine that Pat Lam's Long Goodbye was probably the reason for that. Plus if the six month release clause was to end last Monday, when they fired him, they'd have had to hand him notice at the end of November.

All I want is for someone at the press conference to formally announce KK's sacking (and/or replacement) to ask Ruane if he accepts that his future as CEO should be decided by the success or failure of his head coach appointee.

Linley's take on it: www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/100393/...cht-cut-his-contract
I'm confused by the talk of this being a done deal for months. If so, why would they not have used the much publicised six month release clause and saved themselves a bunch of cash?

Makes a lot of sense, however i think KK's appointment didn't fully fit this bill like Lam's did. Lam might have actually had less AB caps than Keane but Lam is a rugby legend in Samoa and had a huge career in England in the relatively recent past. People were going to come to a city they had never heard of to play for Pat Lam. Keane's playing days are so long ago you were asking players to come and play for a guy they might have played under at the Chiefs but otherwise he's no more of a draw than random NZ coach X.

No idea of Umaga's abilities as a coach, The Blues seems a right poisoned challace but he's a name that would get players to sign up for.

Accidentally Onside wrote: I don't want anyone from within the Irish system, from outside of the existing conn backroom staff, as I don't want us training some other provinces next head coach.

Another reason to look to the SH is recruitment: Bundee aki doesn't sign for Flannery, and Flannery doesn't know who the next Jake Heenan is. Having in-depth knowledge of the southern hemisphere player pool, and particularly New Zealand, is invaluable to us as we know fringe players in other provinces are happier to sit on their arses collecting splinters and the odd cap in their bubble than sign for us so clever overseas recruitment is more important to us than the other provinces.

100% agree.

overstrander wrote:

creaven wrote: Sure he only lives up the road it's a perfect fit :woohoo: :blink:

That's what I've been saying!

Yeah but it's the wrong road completely. Sure with the new Motorways you'd be in Dublin or Limerick or even Bloemfontein (According to Pinky in a previous post) quicker than you'd get to Moylough on da back roads. So maybe he's secretly in the reckoning for a job at the Kings or Cheetahs. I reckon he's the ideal man to head up a new rugby development program in Alaska.

creaven wrote: Sure he only lives up the road it's a perfect fit :woohoo: :blink:

That's what I've been saying!

I don't want anyone from within the Irish system, from outside of the existing conn backroom staff, as I don't want us training some other provinces next head coach.

Another reason to look to the SH is recruitment: Bundee aki doesn't sign for Flannery, and Flannery doesn't know who the next Jake Heenan is. Having in-depth knowledge of the southern hemisphere player pool, and particularly New Zealand, is invaluable to us as we know fringe players in other provinces are happier to sit on their arses collecting splinters and the odd cap in their bubble than sign for us so clever overseas recruitment is more important to us than the other provinces.

Interesting conversation this morning in OTB


Jerry Flannery - anyone?

I love the way the Dublin commentariat are always trying to foist EOS onto Connacht anytime the head coach job comes up. There's only space for one flapping Eddie around the Sportsground and that job is already taken.

After the horror show against the Ospreys last month I began to lose hope with KK and made a offhanded comment on Twitter that Connacht should seriously look at Kieran Crowley. Of the names bandied about he seems like the most realistic (with our budget) and best suited. Agree that his stint with Canada wasn't too hot but he's worked wonders with Treviso this season.

It really is ridiculous that there has been no official press release regarding KK's departure. It's the worst kept secret in rugby. Maybe it's not true after all and KK is staying on??

sligsup wrote:

salmson wrote:

sligsup wrote:
Heard two gentlemen speaking last night they were saying Kieran Crowley was top of Connacht and IRFU list.

Well he'd be a great choice but you're going to have to be more precise about what you mean by "gentlemen". Were they sporting IRFU blazers, or Paddy Power fleeces, were they oul lads in Wegians jerseys nursing pints in O'Connell's, or is "gentlemen" a pejorative reference to the fourth estate?

The details and these are as graphic as you get. In a sauna yesterday evening in a south dublin gym two middled aged gentlemen speaking with plums in their mouth ( the ross o carroll kelly accent) speaking about it. And was extremely brief but one said to the other I was talking to Mike and he said the IRFU and Connacht are chasing Crowley as he was top of their list reply was suprised Ulster didnt go after him. Kept my head down said nothing,

This is the gold standard of internet gossip. Everyone should have to present their mad claims in this format.

(Also, Crowley would be a great shout)

Amazed Ruairi is able to type wearing a Leo The Lion Leinster outfit.