Haslett may be asked to succeed Kidd

THE IRFU's election subcommittee of Eddie Coleman, Syd Millar and Noel Murphy are faced with the urgent task of finding a successor to Murray Kidd as coach of the Ireland side. Someone will have to fill the post, at least in the short term, before Ireland opens its Five Nations campaign against France on Saturday week.

The committee will convene this week, in fact it is very likely that they will have several meetings, but they cannot do anything officially until Kidd's departure as coach is confirmed.

It would be very surprising were the selectors to appoint Mike Brewer, who has been working with Kidd as coach to the forwards. But what options are open to the committee? Time is short hut there are several.

Willie Anderson, who would unquestionably be the players' choice, is, however, under contract to London Irish, where he recently took over as director of rugby. This looks likely to rule him out. Anderson would bring immense enthusiasm to his task and his love for and commitment to Irish rugby, which he understands so well, is beyond question. His stated ambition is to coach his country.

The coach to the Ireland A side, Dave Haslett, must be under consideration to step into the breach, at least as a short-term measure. Haslett has an excellent track record with both the Ireland schools and the Ireland under-21 squad and, more recently, the A team, which, under his guidance, won two of their three matches last season and defeated South Africa A recently. Haslett is currently coach to Dungannon.

Former Ireland A team coach Harry Williams is another well worthy of consideration. He was a nominee for the coaching position prior to Kidd's appointment as Ireland's first full-time professional coach. The other two nominated were former Ireland and Lions flanker and Exiles coach John O'Driscoll and the outgoing coach last season, Gerry Murphy.

Williams is now coach to Bective Rangers, but I am sure an accommodation could be reached between club and union for Williams to help out. The Munster coach, Gerry Holland is another whose name may well figure as well as that of the Ireland under-21 coach, Eddie O'Sullivan. He is a former IRFU development officer and worked for a time as fitness adviser to the national team.

Former Ireland international Donal Spring, currently Lansdowne coach, and who did a superb job at Old Belvedere, is another with much to offer Irish rugby.

Were the selectors to look outside the country, they may well give some consideration to Brian Ashton, who is apparently about to resign as coach to Bath, where he has enjoyed tremendous success. He would be more likely to work with backs than forwards. Tony Russ, who did a very good job in his brief tenure with Ulster, has recently taken over as coach to Waterloo.

The appointment must be made in consultation with the Ireland manager Pat Whelan, with whom the coach must work in close accord. But whatever is done must be in the best interests of Irish rugby and personality differences must be set aside.