The Otago Rugby Football Union will
appoint a new coach before Christmas to replace Steve Martin,
who has filled the role for the past four years.
The job was advertised yesterday and applications close on
November 20.
"We want Otago to be successful and will choose a coach who
is best equipped to make Otago a consistently winning team,"
ORFU chairman Ron Palenski told the Otago Daily Times
yesterday. "We have no idea at this stage who that might be."
An appointment is expected to be made by the middle of
December.
"We want to give the coach time to work with players not in
the Highlanders and to prepare them for next winter,"
Palenski said.
Palenski wants the team to be well prepared and ready for a
possible early Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland.
Candidates can apply on their own or with a nominated
assistant.
"If the appointed head coach does not have a nominated
assistant, he will be involved in the selection process for
that position," ORFU chief executive Richard Reid said.
The position has also been advertised on the ORFU website and
Reid expects to have an interest from overseas coaches.
"We have advertised through the New Zealand Rugby Union that
has contacts overseas with coaches who are looking to come
back to New Zealand," Reid said.
"It is important for us to appoint the right person."
The selection panel is Palenski, Reid, ORFU deputy chairman
Adrian Read and ORFU board member and former Otago coach
Wayne Graham.
Possible candidates for the job include David Latta (Otago
Country coach), John Leslie (former Otago captain), Bruce
Carvell (Otago assistant coach), Mike Moeahu (Alhambra-Union
premier coach for past four years), Jamie Joseph (Wellington
coach) and Phil Young (former Southland coach).
