Browne: It was right time to change

IRFU chief executive, Philip Browne, admits the process by which Declan Kidney’s successor will be identified and ultimately appointed is likely to be less than ideal.

The creation of a Professional Game Board and appointment of a Performance Director are already in the pipeline in an attempt to streamline and perfect the manner in which the pro game is run in the country.

However, neither is expected to be in place in time to have a say over the man who will be tasked with improving Ireland’s historically low IRB ranking and taking the side onwards to the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

“In an ideal world, if you were able to manage your timing in all of this, you would like to have your Professional Game Board and Performance Director in place,” Browne said on RTE 2FM’s ‘Game On’ programme last night.

“Realistically, it is unlikely that we will be able to do that.

“I would imagine that both of these recruitments will happen effectively in tandem.”

It is a statement that begs the question as to why Kidney was relieved of his post at this point in time, given he was contracted up to and including this summer’s two-match tour to the United States and Canada.

However, Browne was adamant that it was, indeed, the “right time” to change the head coach and added that the union had done so after reviewing results as far back as the 2011 World Cup and having taken into account a dreadful run of injuries.

“Ideally, we would like to find a new head coach sooner rather than later,” he explained before adding that continuity was the reason for maintaining the services of the rest of the coaching staff until June.

“It is to everyone’s advantage if we can do that but these things take their own course and I can’t really predict how long it will take.

“The most important thing is that we get the right person for the job.”

Many opinions have already been expressed as to who that man might be.

“However, at this juncture, not even the identity of all those responsible for finding that candidate are known.

Yesterday’s IRFU statement announced that the union’s National Team Review Group (NTRG) would continue with the process of identifying those persons.

However, Browne revealed that unnamed non-union persons will also be utilised.

“We will be engaging professional advisers. We have already had discussions with them in terms of helping us to manage this process and we will be taking their advice as to the best way to identify the most suitable candidates.”

As for Kidney, Browne was quick to thank the former Munster coach for his contribution to Irish rugby in the professional era and expressed the hope that his services would continue to be utilised by the game here.

Browne has known Kidney for 15 years and met with him yesterday morning to break the news that it had been decided by the NTRG to dispense with his services after five years in the role of national team coach.

“Declan is a proud man and, for any coach, the pinnacle of their career is coaching the national team and he would have liked to continue in the role.

“But, as I say, we had taken the decision that now is the time to change.”