The Blues franchise heaped even more pressure on embattled coach Pat Lam by revealing that they are going to put his job up to tender.
In a statement on Wednesday the franchise said the position of Blues head coach for 2013 will be advertised.
“The Blues Board and the New Zealand Rugby Union have agreed the position will be advertised now to maximise the opportunity to test the market and recruit the best available head coach for the Blues’ 2013 Super Rugby season,” the statement said.
This prompted veteran Blues captain Keven Mealamu to “apologise” on behalf of his players for the fact that Lam will effectively lose his job at the end of the year.
“The reality is, the results of the Blues to date this season have put considerable focus on the role and as those in the rugby industry know, this is the time coaches look to secure their coaching posts for next year and beyond,” Blues board Chairman Gary Whetton said.
“In order to ensure we have the best opportunity to garner interest from coaches both locally and abroad, this position needs to be advertised now.”
Suitable applicants will undergo a recruitment process involving representatives from both the NZRU and the Blues.
As with all Super Rugby franchises, the NZRU contracts the head coach and assistant coach of all New Zealand teams, in conjunction with each franchise.
NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen said: “It’s obvious for all to see that the Blues are having a very disappointing season so far in 2012 and this has brought about the need for some action.”
Lam will continue as coach of the Blues this season and remains contracted to the end of 2012.
The statement added that Lam is eligible to apply for the job.
The recruitment process will take place across June and July.
Mealamu, at a media briefing in Auckland stood by the under-fire coach.
“From a players’ point of view we’re pretty disappointed we let coach down and we failed him, not through effort, but through execution on the field,” Mealamu said.
“We all turn up here prepared and ready to face each week but it’s been one of those things this year, we’ve just struggled and what makes it tougher is that we’ve left coach in his situation which was the last thing we wanted to do.
“I know coach [Lam] is a proud Auckland man, a proud Blues man, brought up in this region, and we’re disappointed we weren’t able to look after him on the field.
“Obviously coach is responsible for preparing us, but at the end of the day us players have the responsibility of getting out there and getting the result on the field.”
Lam said he was “all good” about the decision, adding he was told last night and discussed it with his family.
“I can only speak for myself and my whole focus is about trying to get a win this week, so it’s not a problem for me. I’m excited about the opportunity we have this weekend [against the Lions at Eden Park on Friday]. I’m all good.
“As soon as they got told, I just reminded the boys, it doesn’t change my job here. I’m all good, I’ve got a beautiful wife, I’ve got five good children. I spoke to them last night about it and said it’s an exciting time for us. We’ve been blessed in what we’ve been able to do right up to this moment. Whether we’re here next year or somewhere else, it’s exciting.
“We’re tight as a family. As soon as I said it was exciting, they all starting throwing their suggestions in, my little five-year-old said when we started mentioning countries, `hey, what about Disneyland’.”
Lam’s last comment revealed he is likely to head overseas and he has already been linked to several clubs, including Bath in England.
This prompted immediate speculation as to whom the next Blues coach will be – with names like John Kirwan, Joe Schmidt, Jono Gibbes, Greg Feek, Vern Cotter, Mark Anscombe and , Rob Penney, Warren Gatland (despite still being contracted to Wales) and Wayne Smith.
As is the case with every available coaching job around the world, even former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has been linked to the position.