Mike Ruddock
Mike Ruddock has put Welsh rugby in a bad situation. Let's make no bones about it, his inability to find common ground regarding his supposed new contract has left Welsh rugby somewhat in the toilet. I don't doubt he is a man of honesty and integrity, or that he should be looking out for his own interests as much as those of the national game. However what does grate is that at some point, he forgot to consider the ramifications of his actions.
Much of Ruddock's role in this farcical nonsense has been underplayed in my opinion. Not so much that the WRU put him in a few outrageous positions, but that the situation was in large part caused by himself. The Welsh coach's job is high profile and stressful, no doubt and if he was unhappy about it then issues should have been raised at the appropriate time. After the Autumn internationals was one, BEFORE the Six Nations was another. So to announce that you will not be Welsh coach at the end of the Six Nations (what was going to be his original announcement and what started this in the first place), come what may, is really daft. I understand why the WRU felt it better for him to leave now, but they should never have had to make that call.
Firstly, his contract should have been sorted out much earlier. Going into a Six Nations with none of the coaching staff signed onto contracts is just stupid business. Further to allow the matter to drag on and on without setting deadlines is a sin. These are the WRU's faults. Ruddock though should have had the decency and werewithal to have made a decision prior to beginning defence of the Six Nations title. If it is true that a deal was all but arranged only for Ruddock's solicitor to demand major changes at the eleventh hour, then this is bitterly disappointing in light of what many people have gone through over secrecy and culpability. If David Pickering's assertion that they had shaken hands on a two year, £400,000 deal only for Ruddock to pull out is accurate then major questions have to be asked of the now former Welsh coach. What was his intent? Why did it take so long to make his decision? and why oh why go to the media about leaving at the end of the Six Nations during the tournament? He did himself and his players great disservice by taking such a move and although there are many 'ifs' regarding the situation, blame cannot be assigned quite so clearly as it was at the beginning of these tremulous events.
Hopefully more information will come to light that will answer many of these questions. Sadly though Ruddock has already been lessened in my eyes.
Much of Ruddock's role in this farcical nonsense has been underplayed in my opinion. Not so much that the WRU put him in a few outrageous positions, but that the situation was in large part caused by himself. The Welsh coach's job is high profile and stressful, no doubt and if he was unhappy about it then issues should have been raised at the appropriate time. After the Autumn internationals was one, BEFORE the Six Nations was another. So to announce that you will not be Welsh coach at the end of the Six Nations (what was going to be his original announcement and what started this in the first place), come what may, is really daft. I understand why the WRU felt it better for him to leave now, but they should never have had to make that call.
Firstly, his contract should have been sorted out much earlier. Going into a Six Nations with none of the coaching staff signed onto contracts is just stupid business. Further to allow the matter to drag on and on without setting deadlines is a sin. These are the WRU's faults. Ruddock though should have had the decency and werewithal to have made a decision prior to beginning defence of the Six Nations title. If it is true that a deal was all but arranged only for Ruddock's solicitor to demand major changes at the eleventh hour, then this is bitterly disappointing in light of what many people have gone through over secrecy and culpability. If David Pickering's assertion that they had shaken hands on a two year, £400,000 deal only for Ruddock to pull out is accurate then major questions have to be asked of the now former Welsh coach. What was his intent? Why did it take so long to make his decision? and why oh why go to the media about leaving at the end of the Six Nations during the tournament? He did himself and his players great disservice by taking such a move and although there are many 'ifs' regarding the situation, blame cannot be assigned quite so clearly as it was at the beginning of these tremulous events.
Hopefully more information will come to light that will answer many of these questions. Sadly though Ruddock has already been lessened in my eyes.
posted by Owen at
10:11 PM
2 Comments:
Where are we going with this Owen? You've suggested the problem, we need a solution. Johnson's coming home, (I'd rather Campese,) where does Welsh Rugby go?
By
Benny Lappin, at 9:43 AM
Restructure is where I'm going. Get rid of the career politicians and 'clubmen'. Scour the globe for a non-Welsh chief executive like Moffett who will have singular control over the business side. Create clear channels and positional responsibilities so that no-one can bypass obvious chain-of-command. Make the coach directly responsible for on the field matters and their contract. All contracts should have clear dates for negotiation and renewal. Outside of these times, unless something drastic/life-changing occurs, contracts will not be dealt with. Further contracts will have a clear disclosure agreement and a provision that requires the employee to give seven days notice and in this period they will not be allowed to speak to the media of the events.
What I'm suggesting boilds down to common sense and sealing off any avenue for 'malarky' that will further blight the name of Welsh rugby. When you represent a whole nation and are paid well to do so then you should be held accountable. For too long Welsh rugby has been a political animal off the field and it is time that stops. We are in the professional era and yet are still run by amateurs. If ever there was an opportunity to shake the tree and remove the dead fruit, this is it.
By
Owen, at 1:26 PM
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