[Stevie J]

https://t.co/FgPq6Ao8bJ?amp=1

Rugbypass claiming Skivington to Gloucester as their new head coach. With some compensation coming back for his remaining year on his contract.

[Margin_Walker]

Not an opportunity he could really turn down. Hope he does well there.

[Narbia]

As above. Top job at a big club. Hope it rolls for him.

As far as I can tell the LI forwards were beginning to get into shape - with some semblance of tactics that were missing for a good while. I guess Skivs can take credit for that.

Update : after reading that notice on the LI main page, this doesn't reflect too good on Skivs either.

[GC89]

Really hard to tell with coaches, but felt like he had done a really good job considering his relative inexperience, so this news is disappointing. However, a head coach job is a big step up and I hope he does well. As MW says, not really a job he could turn down.

We have Jon Fisher coming through in the coaching ranks, but not really sure if he is a forwards-specialist or not (I know he played back row). I imagine we will want someone with a set-piece focus to fill the role in the short to medium term.

[Margin_Walker]

Given the likely financial situation I assume either Fisher (who is academy forwards coach as well as U18 HC), or Danaher in s sideways move will get the job.

Who knows though. We may have someone external in mind.

[Florida]

I'd assume Danaher. He was the academy forward coach, then moved to seniors as defense coach but that role I think now belongs to Davis.

[Stevie J]

All official now, Gloucester have announced it.

Who coaches the forwards now? Does this open up the ability to bring in an attack specialist?

[Florida]

I have long given up hope of a specialist attack coach. Definitely think Dec D should shift to forward coach now.

[Margin_Walker]

Interesting.

https://www.london-irish.com/news/londo ... on/bp2624/

[Florida]

Nail the buggers to the wall I say!

[Margin_Walker]

I've no idea what they are playing at. Can only imagine they are perhaps going to try and suggest a COVID related reduction in salary was an initial breach by us.

Who knows though. It's pretty odd

[Florida]

I would imagine so, but I'd also imagine that given reductions were "voluntary" then they wouldn't count as a breach

[Narbia]

From reading the LIRFC homepage...

“George is under contract with London Irish until June 2021 and has not served us with the required notice period, nor have the terms of his contract been breached. More importantly, at no point have we received any proactive communication whatsoever from Gloucester.

Not mincing their words are they. Well I'll be surprised if that doesn't result in a lawsuit.
Glaws of course are allegedly currently in the process of suing Sale ...

[Florida]

Can we spend the money we get out of them on an attack coach? Are there any out there currently available ?

[Margin_Walker]

I have long given up hope of a specialist attack coach. Definitely think Dec D should shift to forward coach now.

Not fans of Danaher on the other forum are they. Seem to want rid of him.

No idea how anyone develops such a strong negative opinion on one member of our coaching staff. Hardly his fault there is lots of defensive expertise on the staff.

[Florida]

They are not. I did have to chuckle when someone stated he's not the right man as he's not got broad enough experience. I guess they haven't seen Baxter's CV.

[Margin_Walker]

My favourite was.

'He's been here far too long'

We're a club that suffers from a crippling lack of continuity and have just had our best run in years (not saying much!). Someone being here a while isn't a bad thing FFS.

If Kidney thinks he's not pulling his weight, then fine... Fans just guessing is a bit wierd.

[Florida]

That's the one! He's been here too long and needs to broaden his horizons.

I actually think he's done a pretty impressive job. He's gone from academy forward coach to senior defence coach and did an outstanding job in the first championship season. He definitely got found out in the opening half of the first premiership season, but he improved massively.

[Florida]

And now Alemanno is too slow, you can't make it up...

[Narbia]

Glaws reply...

GLOUCESTER RUGBY HAS SEEN THE STATEMENT FROM LONDON IRISH OF 27 JUNE 2020.

In light of the comments made in that statement, Gloucester Rugby wishes to clarify the position:

1. Gloucester Rugby openly advertised its Head Coach role in the usual way. George Skivington (“GS”) was the stand out candidate following that process.

Doesn't say if he was approached or applied himself. There's a protocol to follow.

2. Gloucester Rugby understood that GS was not restricted contractually from joining the club. Gloucester Rugby, nevertheless, directly and straightforwardly sought clarification of London Irish’s position. That clarification has not been forthcoming.

That implies Glaws asked what the contractual arrangement of the coach was, surely? What is your availability is always the first question of recruitment. There's a protocol to follow.

3. Gloucester Rugby is therefore surprised and disappointed by both the contents of statement from London Irish, and the forum in which it was released, not least in view of the proactive efforts made by Gloucester Rugby during the course of this week.

Irish say they weren't approached. Somebody isn't telling the truth.

4. Gloucester Rugby will continue to seek to engage with London Irish, through the appropriate channels. Gloucester Rugby urges London Irish to do the same.

Oh, yeah? And there's a Premiership Rugby protocol to follow.

Gloucester Rugby will make no further comment.

[Margin_Walker]

Expect the story will develop in the coming weeks.

At the end of the day it seems like Gloucester are trying to get away without paying any compensation. Not sure what the legalities of a coach on a fixed term contract and the league protocols are, but I can't imagine Skivs has a notice period of a week or two.

As an aside, you'd think he'd also have a copy of his contract he'd be able to show Gloucester when queried, which should confirm the situation. Perhaps a get out clause for a Head Coach role. I guess COVID and whether he's consented to any current reduction are also complications.

[poyntonshark]

This looks a lot like Glaws doing to Irish what Sale did to Glaws. Van Rensburg initially told Sale he had signed for no-one (Glaws told him to say he had signed for no-one as they had approached him illegally whilst he was contracted to The Lions), Sale signed him, it later became apparent that he had (illegally) signed for Glaws but Sale continued with their process. In our case both player and Sale have been fined, Glaws got away scot-free.

It is possible in this case that Skivington hasn't told Glaws everything, but as I understand from the Sale case, it is Glaws' responsibility to ascertain his contractual obligations. Not hearing from Irish, even if true, doesn't mean that they can go ahead and sign him.

[Margin_Walker]

Decent law based article on the case here

http://rugbyandthelaw.com/2020/06/29/gl ... ssion=true

[GHA]

Decent law based article on the case here

http://rugbyandthelaw.com/2020/06/29/gl ... ssion=true

Lot of words in that article

[Margin_Walker]

There were a few to be fair.

Apologies

[GHA]

No no, no need for apologies, I just started out hoping for a 'Gloucester will get a fine in the region of £XXX,XXX, be docked 5 to 10 points, and compensate Irish £XX,XXX. My own fault for setting the bar too low!