Worcester Warriors bosses have vowed to appoint the right candidate in the Sixways hot seat who is ‘ambitious and driven’ as the search for a successor to Mike Ruddock gathers pace.
General Manager Charlie Little has revealed an eight-man shortlist has now been drawn up after over 30 formal applications were received and meetings are now underway with prospective coaches.
And Little has reassured supporters that the club and Chairman Cecil Duckworth will select the right coach with the qualities and experience to take Warriors forward in the long term into a successful new era.
“What is crucial is the criteria we have drawn up to get the right man for the job,” said Little.
“The process that the Chairman has taken on has involved a number of parties including consulting Kevin Bowring, Head of Elite Coach Development at RFU.
“Kevin is employed by the RFU to assess all coaches who get to elite level and we have asked him to give us an insight and help us draw up the shortlist. We have had an internal and external review into the playing department and the way forward.
“We are looking at key areas that will help the club make the final and correct decision.
“It is going to take over 30 games to win the Championship so we need someone with strong club rugby experience.
“We also want someone who is ambitious and driven with a point to prove – we must be careful of having someone who has already done well.
“The club must be taken forward over the next three to four years so we have to appoint someone who we can build the future around.
“The successful candidate will also be someone who is technically very good on the training field, certainly has experience in northern hemisphere rugby and has within his armoury the ability to coach us through the Championship and back into the Premiership.”