The Abi Tierney Q&A: My phone hasn't stopped ringing with people who want Wales job
Welsh Rugby Union CEO Abi Tierney insists money will not be a barrier in Wales appointing a world class coach to replace Warren Gatland.
The WRU parted ways with Gatland after a run of 14 straight defeats, which leaves Wales a record low of 12th in the world rankings. Cardiff's Matt Sherratt has taken over on an interim basis until the end of the Six Nations but Tierney has revealed the search for a long-term replacement for Gatland has already started.
WalesOnline understands Ireland coach Simon Easterby, Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith and the highly decorated Australian Michael Cheika are three who are attracting the WRU's interest.
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"Yes, the money is there and it's in our financial plan to do that," said Tierney. "We won't be choosing somebody based on their cost from that perspective.
"My phone hasn't stopped this morning. People reaching out who are interested, I am not underestimating where we are, but for a lot of ambitious coaches, the idea of actually coming into this position and making a difference and turning something around is clearly very attractive.
"And the brand of Welsh rugby and the fact that rugby in Wales matters more than in other countries is still massively attractive as well. I was being approached before this, and I am confident that we can get a top candidate to come in."
Here's everything Tierney had to say as she held court with journalists following Gatland's departure as Wales coach.
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Q: Who made this decision?
"It was a mutual decision."
Q:Who phoned who?
"He phoned me. We caught up after the game, and he phoned me and said ‘can we have a conversation’, so we had a conversation and we reached a mutual agreement that this was the best time and the best interest of Welsh Rugby for him to finish his role.
Q: Why during the campaign?
"I think it was always going to be difficult to reach the decision. I think there was a mounting sense that it wasn’t working and something had to be different, and up until now Warren has always felt that he was the right person to make that change and take the team forward.
"He no longer felt that and when that happens, we’ve got to look for a new solution and I think it was important for the team, the management team and the Welsh public that we’ll make that change even though, ideally, we didn’t want to make in the middle of the tournament, it’s still the right decision."
Q: What impact do you hope that it has in the next few weeks?
"Matt and I spoke about that last night actually… I used the word ‘hope’. Think bringing hope back to Welsh Rugby, I think ambition, showing some ambition, helping the players rebuild their confidence and their mindset, but maybe Matt can talk about what he thinks he can do.
"There is no magic bullet there, this a really young team and they’re playing their hearts out on the field, and Matt isn’t going to change that around in three games, but hope and ambition… if we can see some of that, then."
Q: You backed him after the Autumn but two games later he’s gone. Do you accept that that’s a bit of muddled thinking on your side?
"No. I think it was a very thorough review, there’s lots of multi-fasted reasons why we decided not to make changes then, including Warren wanting to take the game forward, the timing we had leading up to the tournament, the availabilities and alternatives… you look at all of that… and also data that suggested that Warren was the best person to lead the team and not bring somebody new wasn’t going to make a huge difference, and continuity was required.
"So hindsight is a wonderful thing, these decisions are never easy whenever you make one but did we make the right decision, yes.
Q: Did Warren say he’d had enough?
"No, he didn’t use that phrase. He said he felt it was in the best interests for Welsh rugby for him to go. I think he’s always put Welsh rugby first and that was his main driving factor.
"He gave me no sense he’d had enough but when he no longer felt it was the right time for him to be in post, then it was the right time for him to go."
Q: If he hadn’t said that, would you have got rid of him anyway?
"Again, it’s hindsight isn’t it. It’s interesting. We have a board meeting tomorrow where we were going to do an interim review so I can’t really say now what the outcome of that would have been. It had become inevitable this was going to happen, but it would have been a board decision.
Q: You are 12th in the world now. Where is Welsh rugby at?
"It’s at a really low ebb and we’ve got to turn it around. It’s the same systemic problems that have been around for a long, long time. What is clear is we really need systemic change that is going to make a difference and be sustainable for the long term.
"It’s really hard to do that quickly. I realise people are impatient and they want to see quick change but that is difficult when it’s a result of many years of systemic problems."
Q: Is this job harder than you thought it would be?
"It’s a good question. It’s a really tough job. I think the complexities involved are harder and some of the things I’m facing are much more deep-rooted than it’s possible to see from the outside than I’ve seen as a fan. Is it tougher? Yes."
Q: What does Welsh rugby owe Gatland?
"A huge amount. I said to him in our conversation one of the main reasons I took this job was to work with him. He’s an inspirational coach and one of the best coaches in the world.
"As a winner of Grand Slams and Championships, I really hope that’s what his legacy is and what he’s remembered for."
Q: Any regrets over not accepting his resignation last year?
"No I don’t."
Q: Will Warren's backroom staff be staying?
"Matt has had less than 24 hours to process this ask and I’m so pleased he has but now I think we need to give him a little bit of time to process what the next steps are. Let’s give some time for Matt to work that one through."
Q: Have you begun the process of finding Warren's long-term successor?
"In any job you are in when you've got such key single points of leadership you have to make sure you have succession plans in place. You always look and I do that across all of my team.
"I've been looking at some of the changes recently. What are the options out there?
"We can now formally start that process and we are starting it in earnest."
Q: Are you close to appointing a director of rugby?
"That's absolutely critical. I wouldn't say we are close.
"We are working hard at it. I saw your article yesterday and I think next to the coach that's going to be one of the most important decisions we can take in Welsh rugby.
"So, I want to make sure we get it right rather than rush it."
What sort of characteristics are you looking for in the next head coach? Is the money there to get a world class coach?
"Yes, the money is there and it's in our financial plan to do that. We won't be choosing somebody based on their cost from that perspective.
"In terms of characteristics it was quite interesting when Matt was the obvious choice for interim coach what we are doing with the regions now. Somebody who is a natural collaborator, somebody who can work across the ecosystem is going to be really important because I think that's one of the things we haven't been able to do as successfully as we should have been able to do in the past.
"So, that's one of the key characteristics. Somebody who can lift a young team and give them that confidence is also going to be really important.
"Somebody who has got the experience of winning is going to be important. There's lots of different things that we are looking at in terms of the criteria that will drive that decision."
Q: Are you adverse to going fishing? There are some good candidates in jobs?
"No, absolutely not. We are looking at every person out there really.
"So, no I'm not adverse to fishing."
Q: In what measurable way has Welsh rugby improved since you've been in post?
"I think we have now got a strategy. When you say we are waiting for a long term review we are very close to signing the PRA.
"So, 90% of the strategy is there. When we sign the PRA that's the final piece in the jigsaw and that's taken time.
"We had two choices.
"I could have done the new deal by imposing a new deal on the clubs. Would I then have been able to phone up Cardiff yesterday and say I need your help?
"And get a real positive collaborative response? The strength of the relationship and the stuff that has now been built with the regions and the WRU has still got a long way to go but it is so much better than it has been for a long time. I think that's a really significant improvement.
"You saw some of that in the press release on Friday but the effort behind the scenes doing that when the trust hasn't been there has taken significant time."
Q: Can you understand why there is still significant frustration from former players?
"Absolutely I can understand that because they care passionately about the game but when I speak to a lot of the former players, and I do, there's also an understanding that this is many years in the making and it's not going to get fixed overnight.
"For as long as we are not winning on the pitch that frustration I feel it hugely passionately as well but I absolutely believe we can turn it around."
Q: Is Welsh rugby in last chance saloon with apathy setting in?
"I think there’s a crisis in rugby globally in terms of with what we’re seeing around things such as TV rights and the fanbase where we’re competing with so many other sports. We’re struggling to attract younger fans.
"The challenges with the structure of the game, with how it’s played and if it’s fast enough. All of those things.
"I don’t think that’s just a Welsh challenge. It’s more extreme in Wales. Wales is a small country so it feels that volatility, those ups and downs, far stronger than a bigger country that can ride some of those waves.
"It’s why the strategy is so important and that we try and flatten that curve, so we’re not so exposed to that. We’ve got to attract new fans.
"We’ve got to build our heroes and stars of tomorrow so kids want to watch. Does it make me sad that ex-internationals didn’t watch the game on Saturday? Absolutely.
"We’ve got to change that."
Q: Will you be looking for a big name coach like Michael Cheika or someone like Matt who prioritises long-term growth?
"It’s a good question. I think you look at all of them.
"I don’t think there’s going to be one single criteria that’s going to fit. It’ll be a number of different criteria and it’ll be about cultural fit as much as it is about experience in all of those as well. We’re not ruling anybody out at this stage.
"We’ll go through a really rigorous process to choose the right person."
Q: You have lost your last 14 Test matches. Will a world class coach want to join Wales?
"My phone hasnt stopped this morning. People reaching out who are interested, I am not underestimating where we are, but for a lot of ambitious coaches, the idea of actually coming into this position and making a difference and turning something around is clearly very attractive.
"And the brand of Welsh rugby and the fact that rugby in Wales matters more than a lot than in other countries is still a massive attraction as well. I was being approached before this, and I am confident that we can get a top candidate to come in."
