Cash dilemma for Walkinshaw
Financial limitations could tie Tom Walkinshaw's hands if he wants to axe Dean Ryan as head coach at Gloucester Rugby.
Ryan is understood to have up to four years left on his contract at £150,000 a year, meaning a substantial settlement would be required.
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Dean Ryan has been under pressure at Gloucester Rugby
With the top coaching names attracting salaries in the region of £250,000, the Gloucester chairman would have jumped at the chance of signing Ryan on a long- term basis relatively cheaply with the Cherry and Whites on the verge of success.
But now the wheels have come off, and with big names wanting out and results suffering, Walkinshaw finds himself in an entirely different position, and a difficult one financially.
With a list of 12 names leaving the club, topped by regular first teamers including Iain Balshaw, Anthony Allen, Olly Barkley, Ryan Lamb and Carlos Nieto, the pressure is on to bring in equally big names.
But whether Gloucester can afford to do that, along with settling Ryan's contract and bringing in a new big-name coach, remains to be seen – hence a top-to-bottom review to find out where money can be saved and used in other ways.
The most likely outcome appears to be removing Ryan, getting in an unproven but cheap coach and plugging the gap left by departing players – a list that is expected to grow – with less familiar names and academy graduates.
At the very least, that means a season or two of rebuilding, meaning the fans' patience will yet again be tested.
Walkinshaw revealed yesterday that Wasps had made an approach for Ryan at the start of the year.
Walkinshaw told the Daily Mail: "They asked for permission to talk to Dean. They said, 'Is that OK with you?' I said no, that he was under contract.
"It didn't surprise me that they were planning changes because their coaching team were quite frequently unavailable for games because they were watching players for the Lions or with Wales."
Walkinshaw also expressed his feelings about the results at the end of the season, including the 50-point demolition at the hands of Cardiff Blues in the EDF Energy Cup final.
He said: "To say I was shocked would be an understatement. "There were several results at the end of the season which you would never have predicted. We have to find out why those results happened."
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by NewGloucsMan, Kingsway
Friday, May 15 2009, 10:46AM
“He cant be that bad at his job when in reality we have got to the finals. Granted we always seem to be the bridemaid, but its not like we are at the bottom of the table. What most people are fustrated by is nto actually picking up the silver, but how much of that is the fault of the coach. He obvioulsy got them on the pitch, but the team seem to get startstruck seconds before the kickoff.”
by Roger, Maisemore
Friday, May 15 2009, 7:10AM
“WHY CAN¿T WE BE MORE LIKE THE TIGERS?
What are the similarities between Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers.
¿ Both teams are based in communities that are passionate about their rugby.
¿ Both teams are well supported, although GR could have an even larger fan base if they won competitions.
¿ Both clubs have had head coach problems and issues over the recent years. Tigers have sorted out their problems.
What are the differences between Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers
¿ Leicester Tigers are probably the most successful GP club over the last two decades.
¿ Leicester Tigers are in two finals this season and could win both. GR were slaughtered by the Blues in the EDF.
¿ GR has a head coach who considers being top of the GP for some or all of the season to be a suitable achievement! Winning the GP and having GR engraved as winners is what it is all about Dean Ryan.
¿ Leicester Tigers always cheating. Well probably but the reality is that they are very professional and just want to win, and if that takes pushing the rules to the limit then so be it.
The problems with GR may be down to Dean Ryan, Redpath & Betts, but I feel that there is more to it than just these three.
Has any one asked about the off field management, the Chief Executive, the financial management, the marketing side. How does our off the field team compare with the outfit at Leicester? Richard Cockerill payed tribute to all the backroom staff including the ticket office etc when interviewed after the GP semi final win over Barf.
The biggest problem may be at the very top. I don¿t know how the ownership of Leicester Tigers is constituted, but I can bet that they don¿t have their club under the complete control of one autocratic individual.
So now the club is going through a complete and thorough review by possibly the same individuals who are part of the problem.”
by Stan, Stroud
Thursday, May 14 2009, 1:00PM
“Confused? You will be....
What is this particular piece of unattributed spin preparing us for: Dean Ryan staying or Dean Ryan going?”
by Smashie, Gloucester
Thursday, May 14 2009, 12:35PM
“Maybe going public is a deliberate attempt to get Ryan to resign, walking away with nothing and not have to pay him off?”
by Ralphy, Glaws
Thursday, May 14 2009, 10:55AM
“I have seen the near future, "Dean Ryan will remain at Glaws because he deserves a chance to put right what is wrong and can be forgiven one bad season" - Tom Walkinshaw "That's my Season Ticket not being renewed then" - a large number of supporters”