Ulster squad additions

First topic message reminder :

All of the following will be contracted to Ulster next year - I don't know the nature of each contract though

Niall Annett
Jerry Cronin
Craig Gilroy
Paddy Jackson
Adam Macklin
Luke Marshall
James McKinney
Ian Porter

Will supply a fully list shortly - still no mention of Bryan Young. Also no mention of Gaston yet

I'll do my best

Harder with non Ulstermen though as no direct contact.
The people I know know Tommy they don't know Kaino

Let's get a meet set up between geoff and big john

Big John?

Some hit!

I hope this is not on the field of play

He's half my age and twice my size

Apparantly Terblanche has been doing a decent job in the coaching department.
Also speculation that the next head coach is a Saffer. Will try and find out more - to be clear I'm not saying Terblanche will be head coach

I would love for terblanche to be involved in coaching our backs. Said it before but he has probably forgotten more than our youngsters know.

At the time, Bowe and Roger Wilson leaving was a pretty telling indictment of where we were heading as a club. Now they are coming back, I couldn't be happier. It's just as telling a sign of where we are now!

Just found our McLaughlin leaving was an amicable decision made some 4 months ago.

All talk of a sacking is bunk.

That's good news. Not that McLaughlin is leaving but that he wasn't pushed

That is no surprise but at the same time a great relief.

Looking at the personalities involved I just couldn't see it any other way.

Mind you, can you all just imagine the reaction in "certain" sections of the press if we get a SA coach????

"Ulster Saffers holding back young Irish coaching talent!!!!"

Notch wrote:At the time, Bowe and Roger Wilson leaving was a pretty telling indictment of where we were heading as a club. Now they are coming back, I couldn't be happier. It's just as telling a sign of where we are now!

+1

But....................






Neil Best coming back

Really glad that McLaughlin's departure is mutually agreed. He has brought the club on a great deal over the last few years. Heres hoping we can bring in someone who can take us on to greater success.

Rava wrote:

Notch wrote:At the time, Bowe and Roger Wilson leaving was a pretty telling indictment of where we were heading as a club. Now they are coming back, I couldn't be happier. It's just as telling a sign of where we are now!

+1

But....................






Neil Best coming back

Bestie coming back?! That would be awesome! .................

To quote a famous, infamous and at the moment very poorly Ulsterman,

Never, never, never!!!!

Best to Munster?

Been confirmed McLaughlin will head the Academy next year

Hopefully that will finally put the nonsense that he got the sack to bed.

Humph confirmed it was a leak - whoever you are he will be coming after with you with both barrels.
A calm and gentle exterior hids a determination of steel.
I would not like to be that persons shoes.
I 've only ever seen him really angry once (Botha coming back for more cash) and it ain't a pretty sight.

geoff998rugby wrote:Been confirmed McLaughlin will head the Academy next year

Hopefully that will finally put the nonsense that he got the sack to bed.

Humph confirmed it was a leak - whoever you are he will be coming after with you with both barrels.
A calm and gentle exterior hids a determination of steel.
I would not like to be that persons shoes.
I 've only ever seen him really angry once (Botha coming back for more cash) and it ain't a pretty sight.

Unfortunately there are still plenty of idiots on the Facebook page calling ulster 'disgraceful' and so on.

It is a demotion though, I would be pretty aggrieved if I were McLaughlin and I think there is little grounds for demoting him.

Are you implying the decision was taken out of his hands Thomond? I don't know, but I'm not so sure. The most he could have as a coach is the next year, at most two years. He now has a permanent contract. He's not staking his families future on not having a bad run of results.

Being Head Coach of a professional team is a cut-throat position. I wouldn't be surprised if he wants some job security for the sake of his family.

I just don't see what McLaughlin was doing wrong with Ulster. Why demote him when he has brought his team to two consecutive HC 1/4s and a Rabodirect semi while also improving the depth in the squad by bringing through a lot of youngsters?

The 16 minute press conference gives a completely different interpretation to what you guys are saying. He doesn't look or sound happy, at all, with the decision.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16918072

I do agree with Jay - I saw a clip of that on Newsline and he looked spectacularly uncomfortable. I did feel for him.

This all has me somewhat perplexed.

Here is a piece of speculation but it fits the facts I know:

At the beginning of the Academic year Sept) Brian is told that if wants to return to teaching he has to do so in a year times.
As Sept turns into Oct Brian ask if he can have an extended contract - David says he cannot guarantee more than the rolling year he is on as Head Coach. However if he takes over the Academy he can have a permanent contract. Given results aren't going well (remember Treviso at home) Brian reluctantly agrees.

Shane/David start looking for a new coach and line a few names up.
In the meantime the teams fortunes takes a big turn for the good including qualifying from the 'HC 'group of death'.

Brian asks if he could be considered for the Head Coaches job on a longer term in view of the improved result. Shane/David say that the entire coaching staff is going to be upgraded and that they already have some people in the frame.
Brian is disappointed

Someone either inside or outside the club gets wind and spills the beans.

Not saying this is gospel but it is a reasonable explanation

Geoff,

I'm not sure if you have seen the interview but McLock is asked if he first heard about the new head coach from the press and he doesn't deny it.

I haven't heard the interview but given that players in the dressing room knew Ulster were looking for a new coach 4 months ago it isn't credible Brian was not aware.

Lets be honest something doesn't add up here

Geoff,

You should watch it but I warn you, it is not pleasant viewing.

Interview does not make for nice viewing from an Ulster fan's point of view. I fully accept DH's goal on making us a real European power but that's no reason to steamroll McL out of the way. Don't forget all his achievements and the state we were in when he took over. I think he's been treated quite harshly.

I posted this on the other thread just now. Willie it is Logan the CEO who is the driver and it is World power he is after.

Having just met Mr Logan recently I'd say it is he who is driving any changes and that Mr Humphreys is doing just what any good employee is supposed to do.

What he is told

It might be harsh but it might also be right. We aren't going to know until this whole episode plays itself out in the fullness of time. There were plenty of guys on here (myself included) who weren't too happy or confident in McLaughlin 2 months ago.

Now he has done well since but there is a fair bit of revisionism going on by some. I am disappointed to see what appears to be disharmony in the set up and part of me is sorry to see McLaughlin go but Humphreys has delivered so far so I will wait and see what happens.

WillyGilly wrote:Interview does not make for nice viewing from an Ulster fan's point of view. I fully accept DH's goal on making us a real European power but that's no reason to steamroll McL out of the way. Don't forget all his achievements and the state we were in when he took over. I think he's been treated quite harshly.

+ 1..... I am not comfortable with this at all. I feel very sorry for McL and think this is a big risk. I want Ulster to be successful but not at all costs and by selling our soul.

Hopefully Humph has got this one right.

Happy Birthday Rodders!!! What's it like on the other side of the hill?

Feck its my Birthday tomorrow! Don't rub it in Willy!

Happy birthday rodders have a good one! Anything nice planned?

Och t!ts I just noticed rory's still a teenager, now I feel old.

Thinking about the Brian McLaughlin business; barring a disaster (Eddie O'Sullivan)- I think the right decision has been made.

I think the long-term strategy of investing heavily in the Academy and significantly expanding the coaching personnel is a good one, and I believe it's essential Brian McLaughlin is retained and involved in that process. He's simply too talented a coach to be lost to the organisation. That's always been where I saw him long-term, personally.

The decision will only be vindicated if we get a genuinely top-class coaching staff in place for next season. Because right now I feel we have a really excellent Head Coach in McLaughlin, but I feel the staff around him are fairly average. So the whole coaching ticket needs to be significantly better.

Long-term, it had always been agreed that McLaughlin would move into this Academy role. That's what is being said in that press conference. The question was when; McLaughlin had hoped to continue as Head Coach it's now clear. And he has a right to feel he's taking this team in a very positive direction. I believe he is the best coach Ulster have had in the professional era, the benchmark if you will. So I'm surprised at the timing.

BUT if we get a top-class Head Coach in to replace him AND get the benefit of McLaughlin working directly with the Academy in a permanent capacity, that will put Ulster Rugby on track to a very, very promising place. I think it will make us a lot stronger in the long term and indeed may well be the only thing that gives us a chance to overtake Leinster as the top Irish province in the future.

But it's tough when I think about it because I have so much respect and admiration for Brian McLaughlin; I really do think very highly of him. So when emotion gets involved I'm conflicted. But when I view it without emotion, I can see it's a bold call... and a correct call.

Does anyone have a link.

To be honest providing McLaughlin has known, which I cant believe he hasn't, then I think it is probably the right decision. He really must have known as given the terms of his existing contract he would have a case for constructive dismissal. His presence in the dressing room is not that (struggling for the right word) - powerful or dominant perhaps ?

We have senior players - Muller, Pienaer, Best and if not injured Payne, who have a lot of input. This work at the moment because they are all mature, constructive, hard working and decent individuals. However player power can be dangerous. My impression is Logan/Humphreys feel they need to get someone in who can tell these guys what to do and fully run the show. For that we need someone who has coached and/or played at the highest level.

However if someone has given McLaughlin the impression he was back in the frame when he wasn't that is not acceptable.

On the other hand if he thought improved results put in back in the frame but was told no - tough thats life.

Regardless of the above the leak and the press conference were very badly managed.
Still some aspect of Ulster rugby are very poorly run.
e.g. The Internet booking system means they send you the password unencrypted in an Email - clueless.
I would not book anything via the Inernet on the Ulster site - I have no belief it is secure

Think the conference is on YouTube Geoff. It wasn't helped by jim stokes. Uafc were mentioning and I believe he is s friend of mclaughlins. The tone of his questions was disgraceful for a journo and you could sense he was seething.

It wasn't well managed by UR but I didn't think Humphreys wasnt as bad as has been made out. I do feel for McLaughlin Though. To be honest I find it difficult to believe he could work long term for UR after that.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Happy birthday rodders have a good one! Anything nice planned?

Thanks Rory , its a school night mate so I'll wait until the weekend to drown my sorrows

Many happy returns rodders

Humphreys statement:

Prior to Christmas, Brian and I discussed his coaching position and he was aware that we were considering a number of different coaching options for next season. Traditionally, the two week break between the conclusion of the Heineken Cup pool stages and the resumption of the PRO12 has been the time when staff and players who are out of contract at the end of the season, are advised of their contractual position for the following season.

Brian took a career break from teaching at R.B.A.I to take the Head Coach role at Ulster Rugby. He originally joined Ulster Rugby on a two-year contract in June 2009, and last year accepted a permanent senior coaching position at the club while also agreeing a year-long extension as Head Coach.

The option of the Academy role offered Brian long-term stability and the security to leave his teaching job in order to coach full time.” said Humphreys



Whatever Humphreys is he is not a liar so McLaughlin did know before Christmans that he was not guaranteed the Head Coach job.

Thanks Stand.

Geoff BM may have known they were looking at their options before xmas but he may not have been told he was being replaced for sure until now. He certainly looked a bit shellshocked and disappointed at the conference.

Based on ulsters form since november you can't blame him for being a bit aggrieved.

I think that sums it up. He knew he wasn't guaranteed the Head Coach job and that others were being interviewed.

Those interviews are ongoing and during this period the leak occurred

From that the farce we see before us has occured

As I said earlier a head will roll for this.

Its been a bit of a PR disaster alright. Very disappointing.

Hopefully this won't affect the players and our HEC campaign and BM can go out on a high. He certainly deserves to for the part he's played in getting us where we are.

I hope he is very happy in his new role and perhaps bigger things lie ahead for him down the line.

jebus lads, whatever about sacking McLaughlin, there was no need to humilitate him like that in public after the event.

Someone obviously doesn't like whats happening within UR - there is a split in the camps with leaks like that - unless McLauglin leaked it and his punishment was to look grateful to Ulster Rugby for getting some sort of a role in the academy. Bet the head of the Ulster Academy is a bit worried about his job now.

No issue there Humphreys has said McLaughlin and Longwell will work together - they both will have jobs. There has been a feeling for some time that there is too much to do for one man.

geoff998rugby wrote:No issue there Humphreys has said McLaughlin and Longwell will work together - they both will have jobs. There has been a feeling for some time that there is too much to do for one man.

Sure. If you believe that, you will believe anything. If UR was a happy camp you wouldn't have leaks or be having press conferances to explain them.

I wanted to agree particularly with two posts. Firstly, Stand is right - if this had been announced after our run of four losses (including a BP home drubbing by Treviso), people would have been punching the air, and not upset at all about McL's feelings.

Secondly, I have a massive amount of time for McL, but Notch is right - by all accounts he will benefit Ulster more at the Academy.

We complain when we see remnants of the amateurish, old boys' blazer legacy - we are complaining now about UR taking an ambitious, ballsy outlook.

Don Alfonso wrote:I wanted to agree particularly with two posts. Firstly, Stand is right - if this had been announced after our run of four losses (including a BP home drubbing by Treviso), people would have been punching the air, and not upset at all about McL's feelings.

Secondly, I have a massive amount of time for McL, but Notch is right - by all accounts he will benefit Ulster more at the Academy.

We complain when we see remnants of the amateurish, old boys' blazer legacy - we are complaining now about UR taking an ambitious, ballsy outlook.

That is phrased better than I ever could have. Well said don

Radio just reported than John Kirwan has denied that Ulster have approached him as of yet.