Coaching cuts can have benefits, says Redpath

Gloucester coach Bryan Redpath says the cuts in the coaching staff at Kingsholm could have just as many benefits as they have drawbacks, and it's easy to see how his argument could be right - as long as he and Carl Hogg can handle the increased workload they are facing as the season approaches.

Redpath  says that while there could have been up to four or five coaches having an input during Dean Ryan's era at Kingsholm, the departure of Denis Betts and Rob Burgess has dramatically cut the backroom staff, a situation further weakened by the club's decision not to sign Jake Boer as a coach.
Redpath has admitted that the sole reason for that, after he had indicated he wanted Boer on board, was financial.
He also admits that while he hopes and believes that he and Hogg, with help from Academy specialist Mark Cornwell, can handle the workload, having a lot of coaches works for some clubs.
He told the Citizen: Sometimes you get a lot of people in there and the message is clouded. Yes it's a smaller coaching staff. But it means there are two opinions and the players have to get on with it.
"It's simple because there's only my view and Carl's view, that's it. It's not anyone else's opinion. They don't have anyone else to go to. It's clear."
Not only will Redpath have more to do in the club's day-to-day coaching, but he will also be more involved in contract negotiations with players.
But as he is the man who must decide who the club needs to stay and who it wants to do without, then surely there's nothing wrong with that.
He's likely to be busy over the coming months, though, with 13 players out of contract next summer. They are; Dave Attwood, Olivier Azam, Alex Brown, Pierre Capdevielle, Matt Cox, Paul Doran-Jones, Andy Hazell, Dave Lewis, Jonny May, Jordi Pasqualin, James Simpson-Daniel, Mike Tindall and Tom Voyce.
Meanwhile, the pre-season campaign continues on Saturday with a friendly game away to Ospreys, Redpath hoping that the return of a string of internationals will help his squad carry on the good work after last weekend's home win over Scarlets.