Wasps
Who'll Take Care?
GOLDEN YEARS
By Vespasian
May 27 2011
London Wasps enters the close season with a few housekeeping duties to perform. Not least among them is the appointment and installation of a new Director of Rugby.
In days gone by Wasps would have appointed from within or recalled an old boy to lead the fold. Then came the professional era where short-term results were as important as long-term stability. Nigel Melville managed to keep Wasps in the lime light, winning the Courage Club championship in 1997, and reaching three cup finals in subsequent seasons.
However, towards the end of his reign, when he could see the writing on the wall during thin times, he knew he had to set in train a succession plan. Acting as director, coach, chief exec and bottle washer, with a marketing budget that was to all intents and purposes non existent, Melville took a punt in bringing in Shaun Edwards as a coach with a fresh approach to knock the rust off a brittle team brimmed full with potential.
With results still proving hard to come by at the tail end of 2001, Melville's cast his eye towards axed Ireland coach, Warren Gatland, and fancied this was a man who could restructure the playing side of the club as the demerger from QPR and the all but bust Loftus Road plc loomed.
As leave to garden beckoned him, Melville stepped aside after another away loss, this time at London Irish. Gats took the helm, ushering in a new era for Wasps. The back room was restructured and the team was fixed. Wasps were resurgent but the season finished too soon. Melville was house hunting near GCHQ and talking to another Wasps old boy who was finishing off some business in Bristol.
The Gatland years were short and sweet. Three golden years, over and out. The club took a view and shrewdly opted for a Lion itching to don a tracksuit again in Ian McGeechan. Not unreasonably the team's performance dipped a shade, but still the trophies kept coming.
A South African sabbatical for our Director led us up another garden path, and Tony Hanks, brought in as a short-term technician was installed in place of Sir Geech. Was this wise? Was this cloth-cutting? No hint of a trophy suggested the latter, so out went Hanks a few months early. In came another Wasps old boy, Leon Holden, as acting DoR en route to Japan.
So, just who are the candidates?
Another Wasp old boy? Dean Ryan is reputed to be keeping his video analyst role, so perhaps not he.
Yet another Wasps old boy? Steve Bates still seems settled up north east, now with Northumbria University.
Yet another Wasps old boy? Squeaky has stayed on at the RFU. As likely as a snowball in hell springs to mind.
Yet another Wasps old boy? Phil Greening has just left London Welsh. Possible contender but probably eastward bound.
Neil Back? Late of Leeds. Never a Wasp. Surely?
A great White chief? Jake is not interested in the RFU Performance Director post. Whither Wasps? Unlikely!
John Mitchell? The fans preference but he prefers Perth (and Western Aus.)
Another ex-Ireland boss? Eddie O'Sullivan is working with Melville and not thought to be leaving USA before RWC2011. Has been seen in Wycombe, but not recently. Outside bet.
Yet another Ireland link? Alan Gaffney is installed as consultant to Leinster and involved with Ireland's backs. RWC2011 in the way - could be an each way bet?
Warren Gatland? Another RWC engagement and beyond, also has unfinished business with Auckland authorities. He said he'd left because he wanted to be invited back! Not in the foreseeable, though.
Sir Clive? Now an Olympian. Plus the C5 won't get up Wycombite hills. Said no to RFU. Prefers to tinker with a bigger organisation, so not Wasps next man.
Paul Turner? Mike Brewer? Colin Allen? Please mind the gap!
The feeling on the street? The horse may have bolted. This could run and run!
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27/05/2011 17:32
Look no further than the "Late Coach" Back Seat Mafia for DoR
27/05/2011 21:02
Quote:vw
They are trying to find a way of breaking the news that it's going to be Martin Johnson.....
I wonder where the loudest howls of horror would come from Wasps fans, or from the denizens of Wellford Road.
JEN
@jenwasp
Lurking in Wales, with a couple of Tigers, must be love
If he's right
JEN
@jenwasp
Lurking in Wales, with a couple of Tigers, must be love
Unhappiness, where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as a fun and take it if we can
