GEORGE Graham has spoken of his disappointment at being sacked by Scotland, but admits he has been flattered by offers to move to clubs elsewhere.
Graham, Frank Hadden's forwards coach for the past three years, and Alan Tait appeared to have been picked out by the SRU's review of another disappointing Six Nations campaign. After the union stated that they "were being offered other positions" Ta
it was then promoted back to his position as defence coach for the forthcoming tour to Argentina.
No such luck for Graham, however, whose role for the tour has been handed to Andy Robinson, the Edinburgh and former England coach, on a temporary basis. Graham insisted he was not bitter about the fact he appeared to be the only coach carrying the can for Scotland's poor results of late, but explained that he would not be taking up a different internal SRU appointment.
"There was nothing wrong with the roles they offered," he said, "but I felt they just didn't suit me at this moment in time because I believe I need to be involved in day-to-day coaching to develop as a coach.
"I am not bitter, although I am disappointed at the manner in which it all ended with Scotland. Most people know I'm a passionate Scotsman and passionate about Scotland as a whole, so it has been a disappointing time for me.
"But I'm not a bitter person and I don't hold grudges. I have learned a lot working with Frank, Alan, Mark Bitcon (fitness coach] and Gav Scot (analyst], and that will do me good in the future. I've had a fantastic time. There have been highs and lows, and of course I'll leave quite sad, but I want to go back there as head coach in a few years to come and for me to achieve that I have to go and build up my experience elsewhere.
"I've had a fantastic time overall working with the Borders and Scotland, and I feel I've some good experience to take on to my next role. At the moment I'm not quite sure what that will be, but I feel it's important for me and my ongoing development as a coach to be coaching day-in, day-out.
"I am very flattered by the interest that has been shown in me. I have been all over the place and my agent is working very hard on my behalf, but it's an ongoing process at the moment of meeting people. These things never seem to happen quickly."
It has been rumoured that Graham may return to Newcastle, where he enjoyed success as a player, and link up again with his Borders coaching partner Steve Bates. It was also revealed recently that he had been for an interview with Munster, who play in the Heineken Cup final this weekend.
He admitted both remained possibilities, but re-iterated that he has not made a final decision yet.
"There is an opportunity at Newcastle, and for many people putting two and two together that seems to be the logical choice for me, but I wouldn't like to speculate further on that. There are another two or three options I am considering. Munster is one of them.
"I'm just wanting to make sure I make the right choice for myself and my family. I need to go to a club, whether it be in England, France, Italy, Ireland, Wales or wherever, and, thankfully, there are opportunities there for me. I am close to making a decision on one of them and looking forward to the next stage in my career."
Graham made his name as a young player at Stirling before heading to rugby league and then returning across the code divide as a key figure in Newcastle's rise to the top of English rugby, going on to win 25 caps for Scotland. He headed back north with Doddie Weir and Gary Armstrong to provide experience at the resurrected Borders pro team and, with a PT instructor's background from Army service, quickly took to a coaching role at Netherdale.
He became a full-time member of Hadden's national coaching squad 16 months ago and enjoyed mixed success in his bid to create a more consistent Scotland forward pack. He remains a relatively young coach at 42 and so his experience of professional rugby as a player in both union and league, and internationally, and as a coach in union, means there is no surprise that he has attracted interest from a variety of clubs.
The SRU stated yesterday: "(The SRU] offered Graham other coaching roles within the business, but he declined to take up these offers. The SRU thanks him for his contribution with the national team over the past three years and wishes him well."
The full article contains 808 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
