Ulster call on agency in search for coach

Ravenhill vacancy:The province will leave no stone unturned in the worldwide search for a coach who will fit the Ravenhill profile, writes Johnny Watterson.

Ulster Rugby have engaged a head-hunting company to "scour the world" to find names that would fit the profile of head coach at Ravenhill following the recent resignation of Mark McCall.

The Branch hopes to have a report back from the international agency this week as they move quickly to put a coach in place. While Ulster Rugby have declined, at this point, to name the company employed by them, the internationally-based organisation has been involved in the past in securing coaches for Premiership clubs and international rugby teams.

Chief executive Michael Reid said yesterday that the coach in situ, former Welsh international Steve Williams, has been told that he will be in charge of the side for the next four weeks at least. Depending on what sort of list comes back, a new face could be in Belfast in the New Year.

"We thought it best to go to an agency that has been involved with the Premiership clubs and international level rugby," said Reid.

"They are absolutely familiar with the terrain. We thought that was the best way to go and if we don't get the appropriate candidate then we will have to review the position in which we find ourselves. The agency has offices internationally. We would expect a report back from them at some point this week."

Ulster, as a political entity of Britain, has different laws governing employment and the bringing in of an individual from the southern hemisphere, if that is where the coach originates, is not as straight forward as it may seem.

Ulster's search is further exacerbated by the fact that all of the Super 14 coaches have been appointed at this stage of the season, hence a professional team to thoroughly investigate exactly who is available.

"You have to understand that we have different employment regulations to the South," added Reid.

"Leinster can go and bring in someone like Michael Cheika from the southern hemisphere. It is not so simple in Northern Ireland. For example they have got to have been involved with international sides within the last 15 months. Also we are in a market where salaries such as that of Warren Gatland (Wales coach) can go as high as £300,000 or £400,000."

The reality is that a coach could be in Belfast within weeks or Ulster will have to wait it out until the right name appears on the list. They are anxious to have a person in place speedily but are insistent that it be someone with whom the players are comfortable.

"If people of appropriate quality appear on the list then it would take no more than a week or two weeks," added Reid.

"If the quality is not there then . . . In an ideal world we would want a coach here now because we think that a coach for next year needs to have a thumb print on the team."

Ulster will not pick their team to face Connacht for Friday night's match at the Sportsground until today and given that they are practically out of the European Cup following two defeats to Gloucester and sit at the bottom of the Celtic League table, this could be one of the most important matches of their season.

While last Friday's bonus point performance against French side Bourgoin was an improvement on what came earlier and prompted McCall to step down as coach, it was Ulster's sixth defeat out of eight in all competitions and the first for incumbent coach Steve Williams, who will be watching Ulster's search with greater interest than most.

Clearly if the former Welsh international can turn Ulster's fortunes around and Ulster do not come up quickly with a suitable candidate for the full time job, it would be difficult to ask him to step down.

Winners of the league in the 2005-06 season, Ulster are currently trailing Connacht by a point and are sure to be thinking European Cup qualification next season (top three Irish teams) is possibly at stake.

If Ulster were to fail in gaining entry to Europe, it would be the first time they will have been out in the cold since the format was introduced.

Williams, as always, is pragmatic and has an unwavering belief that hard work and growing confidence can help rehabilitate Ulster and bring them back to the form people expect.

"We just have to keep playing on," said Williams this week.

"Whatever competition, whatever the game, we just have to keep playing. The papers will write the stories that they want to write about us whether we are in or out of competitions, but we just have to take it a game at a time.

"We have to look to improve our performance. And that is the key point," he added. "It all comes from performance. You can't win and play badly. We have to play well and consistently play well for 80 minutes."