NEW Gloucester boss Bryan Redpath has revealed he would still have let Ryan Lamb leave the club.

The Scot feels the young fly-half's move to London Irish was the best thing for his development as a player.

While Redpath admitted Lamb's heart would always be at Kingsholm, he also said the former St Peter's pupil needed to move out of his comfort zone.

"I think it was a good thing for Ryan to move," Redpath said. "He needs to find out different things about himself out of the comfort zone.

"I have a lot of time for Ryan. I got on very well with him throughout my four years here.

"Generally he's a good kid – talented and everything. He will be the first to say this is the right time for him to challenge himself somewhere else.

"That doesn't mean his heart will leave Gloucester. His heart will always be here."

Redpath also insisted the public perception that Dean Ryan pushed Lamb out was incorrect.

"People perceive Dean as the one who pushed Ryan away when he wasn't," Redpath said.

"There were things in his life he needed to sort out. He's moved on, he has a new challenge in his career and he will always have a special place here.

"I wish him every success because he's a talented young lad with dreams to fulfil."

Meanwhile, ex-All Blacks star Carlos Spencer has backed former Gloucester team-mate Lamb to be a big success at Irish.

The arrival of the Kiwi at Kingsholm spelled the end for Lamb at Gloucester, but Spencer sees the same maverick talents in the young stand-off that drove himself on as a youngster.

He said: "I think Ryan Lamb has a great future. He is only young, he is a good, exciting player.

"He is one of those players who like to express himself and take chances. Some coaches like that and some don't. I encourage it and I'd have him in my team any day.

"He is the sort of player I like to see on the rugby pitch. I like to see players prepared to have a go and Ryan likes to have a go – there are not enough of them these days."