Rate it!

0 votes

The Scottish Rugby Union will not be rushed into appointing Frank Hadden's replacement as head coach.

Hadden (pictured), 54, lost his job after four years in charge and the SRU revealed they would immediately begin the search for his successor.

Former England boss Andy Robinson - currently in charge of Edinburgh - is the front-runner for the role, while Glasgow counterpart Sean Lineen is also thought to be in the frame.

There had been whisperings of a snap appointment but SRU chief executive Gordon McKie has promised an "open and exhaustive process" to identify the best man for the job.

He said: "We will be advertising the post, initially on our own website next week and through other appropriate rugby channels.

"Recruitment will be a wide-ranging, extensive process in Scotland and beyond. We will bring together a panel comprising of suitable rugby expertise to assist in identifying the best candidate.

"The timescale is still being finalised but I would stress that Scotland's next international will be played in November and this affords us some time to ensure we secure the right person.

"This appointment is important for Scottish Rugby and the supporters and will not be rushed as we plan fully for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand."

Former Scotland head coach Jim Telfer has questioned Robinson's credentials - but admitted there is no home-grown candidate for the role.

Robinson won only nine of his 22 matches in charge of England after replacing World Cup-winning boss Sir Clive Woodward in 2004 and resigned in November 2006.

Telfer, who led Scotland to Grand Slam glory in 1984 and was part of the Lions set-up on their successful 1997 tour of South Africa, said: "Obviously, he's a coach who has performed at a higher level.

"But he did lose the England job because he wasn't successful.

"So I would look around a bit before jumping to any conclusions. Coaching the Scotland side isn't like coaching an English team.

"You have to know the environment you are going to be in. I wouldn't say Robinson's a shoo-in - he may be the cheapest option because he's already in Scotland."

On the prospect of a Scottish coach succeeding Hadden, Telfer told BBC Scotland: "I'm sure there are coaches abroad - and I don't think there's a Scotsman who could do the job at the moment.

"In recent years, there hasn't been a great policy for developing Scottish-born coaches. We only have two teams and they're both being coached by foreigners.

"There's a log-jam for the development of young Scottish coaches because they don't have enough avenues for them to coach in."

Jim Aitken, who was captain of Telfer's 1984 side, believes Lineen should be considered ahead of Robinson.

Born in New Zealand, Lineen was part of the last Scotland team to win the Grand Slam in 1990.

Aitken said in the Edinburgh Evening News: "I don't think it will make a lot of difference who is appointed because the whole system needs to be turned on its head. But whoever they appoint has to be a Scot and there's a lot of nonsense being talked about Andy Robinson being appointed.

"There aren't a lot of contenders around but Sean Lineen is the obvious one. Sean has worn the Scottish jersey and knows the passions involved. We are a different breed who think differently.

"Unless it is someone really outstanding, it should be a Scot next."

Hadden parted company with Scotland after failing to improve their record in the Six Nations.

The SRU had set a minimum target of two wins per campaign ahead of the 2008 championship, but Hadden managed only a single tournament victory in each of the last two years.

Telfer said: "After defeat at Twickenham, it was inevitable (he would go) because he hadn't reached his winning target of 40 per cent.

"It's probably right that he should go at this time because the team hasn't been performing all that well."

Aitken believes McKie should also resign, saying: "McKie himself should be considering his position.

"The SRU continues to be a club containing too many former school teachers, of which Frank Hadden is one, and until that changes I don't think it will make one bit of difference who takes over.

"Hadden has got the blame and I don't have a lot of time for him as a coach. But there are others in the SRU who need to be looking at themselves."

Sporting Life / Eurosport