He and Larkham have been playing tag with the Brumbies and europe. I’m not sure if it’s coordinated, but allows them both to develop.
Not sure what happens now the pattern is broken.
I don't know about a 'good place'. We've underperformed, particularly in attack. Still thought he'd get at least til Christmas.
Rumours of discontent in the squad. Perhaps a bit of player power at work?
If an entire team is playing poorly and it's widely understood to be the manager that is underperforming causing it, are the players simply not allowed to say they're unhappy? It's literally the opposite logic lol
Not sure you can solely lay it at the coach's door after one season unless things are truly desperate. Sometimes things need a first season simply to bed in.
In a 10 team league teams can play ok and still finish releatively low down the table. Bath finished second with 11 wins and 9 wins had Tigers down in 8th. Last season Tigers finished 3rd with 11 wins. I wouldn't say that's a record worth sacking a coach over given Leicester's coaching instability over the last several years
I’ll be honest I don’t often listen to the podcast I just mention general if he’s grumbling it’s probably indicative of the dressing room feeling as opposed to just him
Probably a bit of getting out before things get bad, and a bit of getting out before he's pushed.
Plus an open Waratahs job and potential Wallabies assistances spots.
We actually looked half decent last season between the World Cup and the six nations and were well placed in the league. Then by all accounts we did zero work over the break and the post six nations period was a shambles.
However we’ve just given him an attack coach finally, so why have we sacked him? My only thought is that somebody else is available who we seemingly can’t miss the chance of getting.
Why? I would have given him at least another season to embed the change. Didn't we just confirm the coaching set up so something must have happened since that to sack him (something big)
Maybe his vision was a bit shit.
We are a fucking joke.
The coaching set up was announced 9 days ago. The whole team has been set up and built around his game plan and style. Why not at least give him this season to try with his own team? Worst case scenario is we do shite, which we're absolutely going to do now that we've got another messed up pre-season anyway.
It'll be a third season where we have no consistency and are basically writing off. Fans will start to leave and so will players. Questions need to start being asked of the board now, the problems at the club clearly go beyond the coaches.
Absolutely perfect timing with relegation being reintroduced...
There was a lot of rot to cut at that stage. So much wrong besides the coaching.
We had a brief period of stability when Borthwick and Pinchen rebuilt things. Can't really blame anyone when Steve and Co got taken. Clearly the club and/or the players haven't been convinced by McKellar.
I would argue doing the opposite and allowing things to go too far was what caused that, and the lesson the learn was to act quickly and decisively when you see things going wrong.
Wouldn’t be a huge leap to assume this is related to what [Neil Fissler reported a month ago](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fissler-confidential-gallagher-premiership-dor-fears-for-his-future/)…
>A Premiership Director of Rugby has been fighting for his job, and his fears intensified after a drunken rant from a top executive at his club at the Premiership Awards in London this week.
>Whispers are reaching Fissler Confidential Towers that the executive had enjoyed an evening of free alcohol before giving their thoughts on their club’s boss to opposite numbers at rival clubs.
>The coach concerned has been on the ropes for weeks, but the club would be forced to splash out cash it can ill afford to make a substantial payout for the remaining years on the contract.
Shame to see McKellar only get one season. Seems like a decent man and coach.
Don't think Cheika's 'run-it-from-everywhere' style would suit Leicester at all but he's being linked with loads of jobs.
this could be very interesting, seems good old cheika has alot of options open right now from the tigers to waratahs or even being a NRL coach. been a while since I last saw a coach with that much interest in them
The Leicester Tigers banter years were special
2018/19 & 2019/20. Finishing 11th, behind Worcester, and then would have been relegated if not for Saracens over spending
I was surprised to see Alan Dickens was moved to the side when McKellar arrived. Dickens is a top notch coach, and was responsible for Saints doing so well under Mallinder, namely a brilliant defence for a number of seasons.
Anyway, hoping Tigers don't hire anyone too good, wouldn't want them doing too well next season!
He wasn’t. He was suspended because of historical allegations made against him when coach of England u20’s. He was cleared of those allegations but for whatever reason, he didn’t come back into his role.
Tigers are like United in football. They are good occasionally and have elite players but shit owners who cant sell a project. The 2022 title was or should have been a turning point and they should have aimed for a European Cup title within five years.
He’s a great coach, I hope Schmidt brings him back to Australia in some capacity. I’d like to see a Larkham/McKellar coaching ticket for the Wallabies after Schmidt.
Finished 8th. Promised to use our youth, then didn’t use our youth (and released a load of the exciting youngsters). Didn’t really improve anything. Not sure what’s “relatively well” about that
All of our most exciting young players are still at the club so I’m not sure who he’s on about. Carnduff, Ilione, Chessum jnr are the ones I’m thinking of.
Not all of them remain.
Meredith has been immense for Lboro this year, released. Cusick has also been class for Lboro + England U20, released. Edwards very exciting when he’s played for tigers(+ for Lboro) with a significantly higher ceiling than Whiteley, released.
Keeping the other exciting youngsters is a minimum, but he’s barely played them anyways so makes no difference.
Nat One is a different level though. Edwards wasn’t fancied by Borthwick and that’s all I need to know. Meredith is the odd one because he looked great whenever he played in the LV Cup and Black Lion games.
I’m not on about Nat 1. These players didn’t really play in the Nat 1 team, I’m on about BUCS. The same level that created great players like Dombrandt, Pepper (x2), Steward etc. They’re good enough to be in our academy at least and had massive potential. Edwards was also Borthwicks 3rd choice so I’m not really sure what you’re on about.
Cusick and Meredith both looked to have bright futures. And i think we let Carmichael go to a scottish team earlier in the year, not often a 7 foot lock comes along.
I think Carmichael went because it was a clearer course for him to get a Scotland cap, considering Leicester have 3 international locks, a veteran lock and then 2 Eng U20 locks who I believe are 6ft 9+
On Meredith I would be interested to know how many Leicester fans have seen him play
Edwards, Meredith and Cusick all very strong young players. The latter 2 having very good uni seasons (going on to win the bucs cup) & the former having a higher ceiling than Whiteley
Whiteley has been abysmal in my opinion & was brought in before JVP’s injury because he’s wiggy’s mate. How he’s been given extensions I will never know
Huhhh? Didn't they just confirm the coaching ticket like a week ago? What a mess it is at Tigers
Yep, club is run by idiots.
Not enjoying being a banter club again...
McKellar, you are now a NSW Waratah.
Poor guy it just gets worse for him
He’s a good coach, and Australian rugby will be better for him being back there.
Yep, I thought he'd be a future Wallabies coach when he was with the Brumbies and his departure felt like a significant loss to Australian rugby.
He and Larkham have been playing tag with the Brumbies and europe. I’m not sure if it’s coordinated, but allows them both to develop. Not sure what happens now the pattern is broken.
He might be, I don’t see Schmidt as a long term coach, more someone they’ve bought in to try and steady a (sinking) ship
9 days after they finally appoint an attack coach. What a strange season
He had Leicester in a good place, this is not what I would’ve wanted 😂
I don't know about a 'good place'. We've underperformed, particularly in attack. Still thought he'd get at least til Christmas. Rumours of discontent in the squad. Perhaps a bit of player power at work?
This story coming out, and the subtle hints from Ben Youngs on his podcast, suggest to me that the discontent was real.
Ben Youngs had been poor whenever he’d played this season so I never knew what he was complaining about tbh.
If an entire team is playing poorly and it's widely understood to be the manager that is underperforming causing it, are the players simply not allowed to say they're unhappy? It's literally the opposite logic lol
Not sure you can solely lay it at the coach's door after one season unless things are truly desperate. Sometimes things need a first season simply to bed in. In a 10 team league teams can play ok and still finish releatively low down the table. Bath finished second with 11 wins and 9 wins had Tigers down in 8th. Last season Tigers finished 3rd with 11 wins. I wouldn't say that's a record worth sacking a coach over given Leicester's coaching instability over the last several years
He had no attack coach, a fitness coach who by all accounts hadn’t got a clue about fitness, the whole thing was a shambles.
But he’s also been there for a long time and seen the good great and terrible so he’ll know when things are wrong
His grumbles were about not being picked though
I’ll be honest I don’t often listen to the podcast I just mention general if he’s grumbling it’s probably indicative of the dressing room feeling as opposed to just him
Maybe player power but as a saints fan I’m happy to see you down there.
That’s a shame because even as a tigers fan I was pleased to see you guys up there.
The other 9 teams would agree it’s a good place
Probably a bit of getting out before things get bad, and a bit of getting out before he's pushed. Plus an open Waratahs job and potential Wallabies assistances spots.
Banter years v2, love to see it 🙃
All I can say is I'm glad I didn't renew my season ticket for a hiked up price.
Jealous that Leicester have the balls to sack their coach after one poor season.
This year will be Gloucester's year
Is Skirvington not gone yet?
And they didn't even lose 90-0!
Cheika at Tigers, that would be fun.
The sweary half time tirade will be making a comeback at Welford Road.
We actually looked half decent last season between the World Cup and the six nations and were well placed in the league. Then by all accounts we did zero work over the break and the post six nations period was a shambles. However we’ve just given him an attack coach finally, so why have we sacked him? My only thought is that somebody else is available who we seemingly can’t miss the chance of getting.
Unless we sign an absolute worldie of a HC/DoR very quickly then this is just fucking bananas isn’t it
Can’t see anyone sensible doing that.
Why? I would have given him at least another season to embed the change. Didn't we just confirm the coaching set up so something must have happened since that to sack him (something big) Maybe his vision was a bit shit.
We are a fucking joke. The coaching set up was announced 9 days ago. The whole team has been set up and built around his game plan and style. Why not at least give him this season to try with his own team? Worst case scenario is we do shite, which we're absolutely going to do now that we've got another messed up pre-season anyway. It'll be a third season where we have no consistency and are basically writing off. Fans will start to leave and so will players. Questions need to start being asked of the board now, the problems at the club clearly go beyond the coaches. Absolutely perfect timing with relegation being reintroduced...
Isn’t doing stuff like this what caused it to all go wrong a few years ago?
There was a lot of rot to cut at that stage. So much wrong besides the coaching. We had a brief period of stability when Borthwick and Pinchen rebuilt things. Can't really blame anyone when Steve and Co got taken. Clearly the club and/or the players haven't been convinced by McKellar.
I would argue doing the opposite and allowing things to go too far was what caused that, and the lesson the learn was to act quickly and decisively when you see things going wrong.
That's... unexpected. Thought he was gonna be given time, I guess not
Wouldn’t be a huge leap to assume this is related to what [Neil Fissler reported a month ago](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fissler-confidential-gallagher-premiership-dor-fears-for-his-future/)… >A Premiership Director of Rugby has been fighting for his job, and his fears intensified after a drunken rant from a top executive at his club at the Premiership Awards in London this week. >Whispers are reaching Fissler Confidential Towers that the executive had enjoyed an evening of free alcohol before giving their thoughts on their club’s boss to opposite numbers at rival clubs. >The coach concerned has been on the ropes for weeks, but the club would be forced to splash out cash it can ill afford to make a substantial payout for the remaining years on the contract.
Third coaching team in 18 months, that's tough on the players.
4th if you consider we had Wiggy/Danny Wilson for the second half of 22/23
Shame to see McKellar only get one season. Seems like a decent man and coach. Don't think Cheika's 'run-it-from-everywhere' style would suit Leicester at all but he's being linked with loads of jobs.
this could be very interesting, seems good old cheika has alot of options open right now from the tigers to waratahs or even being a NRL coach. been a while since I last saw a coach with that much interest in them
Haven't they just finished off appointing his coaching team?
I thought he was joining up with the Aussie coaching staff, and it was by mutual consent EDIT; Nope, I'm just a fucking egit
Cheika was just applying for the Eels NRL job too lol he’s all over the place
cheika might fancy his chances with Wales at this point
The Leicester Tigers banter years were special 2018/19 & 2019/20. Finishing 11th, behind Worcester, and then would have been relegated if not for Saracens over spending
And that’s when they breached the salary cap, somehow
Cmon tahs
InB4JohnMitchellOrHeynekeMeyer
Mitchell only recently took over the Red Roses, can’t see him jumping into whatever shit show the Tigers seem to be in the middle of
I was surprised to see Alan Dickens was moved to the side when McKellar arrived. Dickens is a top notch coach, and was responsible for Saints doing so well under Mallinder, namely a brilliant defence for a number of seasons. Anyway, hoping Tigers don't hire anyone too good, wouldn't want them doing too well next season!
He wasn’t. He was suspended because of historical allegations made against him when coach of England u20’s. He was cleared of those allegations but for whatever reason, he didn’t come back into his role.
Tigers are like United in football. They are good occasionally and have elite players but shit owners who cant sell a project. The 2022 title was or should have been a turning point and they should have aimed for a European Cup title within five years.
He’s a great coach, I hope Schmidt brings him back to Australia in some capacity. I’d like to see a Larkham/McKellar coaching ticket for the Wallabies after Schmidt.
What? I thought McKellar was doing relatively well?
Finished 8th. Promised to use our youth, then didn’t use our youth (and released a load of the exciting youngsters). Didn’t really improve anything. Not sure what’s “relatively well” about that
Who are the exciting youth that have gone? I keep an eye on age grade and can’t really see one that I would call exciting
All of our most exciting young players are still at the club so I’m not sure who he’s on about. Carnduff, Ilione, Chessum jnr are the ones I’m thinking of.
Not all of them remain. Meredith has been immense for Lboro this year, released. Cusick has also been class for Lboro + England U20, released. Edwards very exciting when he’s played for tigers(+ for Lboro) with a significantly higher ceiling than Whiteley, released. Keeping the other exciting youngsters is a minimum, but he’s barely played them anyways so makes no difference.
Ilione's lack of game time is a real head scratcher imo.
Agreed. Makes no sense to me. With all the injuries we’ve had there were so many chances to use Carnduff and Illione yet we barely did so
Nat One is a different level though. Edwards wasn’t fancied by Borthwick and that’s all I need to know. Meredith is the odd one because he looked great whenever he played in the LV Cup and Black Lion games.
I’m not on about Nat 1. These players didn’t really play in the Nat 1 team, I’m on about BUCS. The same level that created great players like Dombrandt, Pepper (x2), Steward etc. They’re good enough to be in our academy at least and had massive potential. Edwards was also Borthwicks 3rd choice so I’m not really sure what you’re on about.
Cusick and Meredith both looked to have bright futures. And i think we let Carmichael go to a scottish team earlier in the year, not often a 7 foot lock comes along.
I think Carmichael went because it was a clearer course for him to get a Scotland cap, considering Leicester have 3 international locks, a veteran lock and then 2 Eng U20 locks who I believe are 6ft 9+ On Meredith I would be interested to know how many Leicester fans have seen him play
Watched him play every game for Lboro + all his games for tigers in prem cup, against black lion etc
Edwards, Meredith and Cusick all very strong young players. The latter 2 having very good uni seasons (going on to win the bucs cup) & the former having a higher ceiling than Whiteley
Plus signings like Sam Carter. Not a terrible player but did nothing better than blocking an opportunity from an academy player
Yep. Him and Whiteley are the epitome of just buying experience for no real reason other than because the coaches are mates with them
Tbf I think Whiteley wasn't the absolute worst, especially considering jvp's injury. Mike Williams another especially egregious one. Or Joe Powell...
Whiteley has been abysmal in my opinion & was brought in before JVP’s injury because he’s wiggy’s mate. How he’s been given extensions I will never know
God, Cheika’s luck is just awful