Elwood Disappointed at Melrose Loss
By Rob Murphy @ Knockon.ie
June 2 2011
It was announced today that Connacht’s Australian backs coach Brian Melrose is leaving the province to take up a player development role with London Irish with immediate effect.
http://www.knockon.ie/?p=6370#more-6370
Head coach Eric Elwood is now left with the unwanted challenge of finding a replacement before the start of the pre-season at the end of this month.
“It’s disappointing to lose Brian after just one season.” said the former Irish out half. “We took a phone call on it last week, Brian just informed us that for personal reasons, he felt it was the right move.”
Melrose joined Connacht at the start of last season and formed part of a new look and experienced back room team as Elwood embarked on his first year in the main seat. His loss will be a blow to the management’s plans for the forthcoming season and came as a surprise.
“He had signed a deal with us before he left but you can’t stand in the way of someone if they want to move and there wasn’t much we could do. At that point he couldn’t tell us where he was going but we see today that it is London Irish.”
Connacht are still very much on the hunt for an inside centre to complete their squad for the new seasons which will be marked by their Heineken Cup debut.
“Obviously it’s not ideal having to look for a replacement three weeks before we return for the pre-season program,” Added Elwood, “but we began the process last week and have had applicants already.
“Now that it is public there will be more people interested and we will look at the candidates in the coming days and weeks with a view to having a replacement in place as soon as possible.”
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EDIT:: Gone to London Irish as their "Elite Player Performance Manager" according to RTE.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:02:15:59:17 by diom.
Strange that the noises coming out of the CB was that he preferred staying in Galway rather than applying for the Edinburgh job.
Edit: I take it back. According to the connacht site and the IRFU site Melrose wasn't offered a new contract.
Cash saving? Or is someone coming in? Or are they going to try to use that cash and whatever's left for a new centre to really push to boat out?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:02:18:40:46 by ummm,.
Who knows though. I for one think we should go after Eddie. He's vastly experienced and could bring alot to the table
Quote:lgwt@castlebar
Eddie is not a team player IMO. Unless he's mellowed I think Eric would find him impossible to deal with. Plus I doubt he'd come cheap.
Wouldn't want that machevellian feck anywhere near our squad, the width of the atlantic is just about far enough away tbh...
I see the future, and it's Green again...
Eric would e undermined and eps would diminish his reputation as a head coach and undermine his earning power.
While I have not been overly impressed with our back play last season bar the first few games it does suggest a lack of belief in the set up.
I would like to see someone local and committed appointed, someone who could form part of a long term plan like Eric and Dan but I can't think of who might fit the bill.
If this was a few years down the line someone like Gavin Duffy who has proven their Connacht credentials.
Quote:Sea_Point
Wouldn't want that machevellian feck anywhere near our squad, the width of the atlantic is just about far enough away tbh...
Get off the fence and tell us what you really think, FFS
Quote:ummm,Quote:Sea_Point
Wouldn't want that machevellian feck anywhere near our squad, the width of the atlantic is just about far enough away tbh...
Get off the fence and tell us what you really think, FFS
And his mother was a hamster and he smells of elderberries...
I see the future, and it's Green again...
We'll need a good replacement especially considering the limited options in terms of personnel we'll have in the backline next season we'll have to get the maximum from every player in the backs.
Has Eric taken on the role???