Chairman Cecil Duckworth hailed the dawn of a new era at Worcester Warriors after Mike Ruddock took the top job at Sixways.
Ruddock was unveiled as the new Director of Rugby on Tuesday morning when he was introduced to a packed press conference by Duckworth.
Ruddock joins Warriors already with a glittering coaching CV having previously enjoyed a spell at Swansea, where he led them to an inaugural Welsh League title and was named Wales coach of the year.
The 47-year-old also became the first professional coach of Irish provincial side Leinster and had roles at Ebbw Vale and Gwent Dragons before landing the Wales job.
“I have always admired what Mike has done in his career and with Wales,” said Duckworth.
“We thought appointing a new Director of Rugby was the best solution, even though we had managed to win four games out of six and stay up.
“John helped to achieve that, along with the players and his back-up team. People say ‘why would we want to change?’ but I think the die had been cast.
“We didn’t paper over some of the things that had gone wrong in the last 18 months, and we felt it was time for a change.”
Duckworth revealed the club was now aiming firmly for European rugby and performances to match the stadium being developed at Sixways.
And he knows in Ruddock the club have appointed the right man to achieve those aims.
“I felt it would take this club forward so we not only build what we have been doing over the last few years on the pitch but to match what we intend to do with our stadium development,” he said.
“As we are planning to take the Sixways capacity up to 15,000 or 16,000, we have to fill the stadium, and that means we have to play better and we must also get into the Heineken Cup.
“It you look back over the last 18 months we have not performed as we would have liked and believed we could do. We have a great bunch of players and as was seen on Saturday against Saracens they are capable of beating any of the top sides very comprehensively.
“We want to compete at the highest level and that means performance on the pitch, there is nothing like winning. I believe Mike is the man who can help us achieve our aims.”
Warriors skipper Pat Sanderson also offered his full support for Ruddock, believing his outstanding coaching credentials speak for themselves.
“We have to move on and look forward and to get someone with a reputation like Mike, with what he has achieved in rugby, I am really excited for the players,” he said.
“If you win a Six Nations and have led Swansea to a championship then your credentials are quite clear, people don’t need me to tell them about his ability.”
The England international also backed his former boss, John Brain, to make a swift return in rugby.
“The players and John were very close. It is always a disappointment when you have been with someone for a long time to have that bond broken,” he added. “We wish him all the best and I’m certain John will be employed again within rugby very soon.”