Johnson won’t save the Tigers
LEICESTER will have to take on their latest salvage operation without Martin Johnson.
The prospect of the ex-Lions skipper returning to Welford Road as director of rugby was one of the scenarios doing the rounds in light of Matt O’Connor’s dismissal as head coach just one game into the new season.
But Sportsmail understands that the fairytale for many Tigers fans is a non- starter. Johnson, a club legend and World Cup-winning England captain, is determined to stay out of rugby coaching.
Since being removed as England manager after the controversial 2011 World Cup campaign, which ended in quarter-final defeat by France, the 48-year-old has been content to undertake commercial work and spend more time with his family. A job at the sharp end of the domestic game does not appeal.
O’Connor’s demise was swift and brutal, yet also belated. As reported in these pages last month, the Australian went into the new season with his position in jeopardy after missing out on the Premiership play- offs in May — the first time since 2004 that Leicester were not involved in the knock-out stages. A subsequent internal Tigers review had identified the need for a coaching reinforcement but none was agreed upon. Sources indicated to Sportsmail that O’Connor further inflamed a volatile situation by reporting for pre- season duty two weeks later than expected following a break Down Under. It is understood that increased the tension between him and chairman Peter Tom, who harboured grave doubts about his ability to lead a revival.
O’Connor was given a stay of execution, partly because the Tigers hierarchy were mindful of creating yet more upheaval after the removal of Richard Cockerill in January last year and Aaron Mauger just a few months later.
However, events accelerated at the weekend as Leicester slumped to a 40-6 defeat against Exeter at Sandy Park. Tom was not in attendance but sources have told Sportsmail that the wheels were set in motion for O’Connor’s departure even before the team had left the ground in Devon. There were emergency meetings on Sunday morning and more followed on Monday.
By 5.30pm that day, senior players knew O’Connor would be sacked that evening. It is understood he was informed of the decision at around 7pm. His assistant, Geordan Murphy, the decorated and respected ex-Tigers full back, had already been asked to step in as interim head coach.
Leicester’s players want the 40-year- old Irishman to be given a fair audition to assume control long term, although there is a certain doubt about his lack of pedigree as a No 1.
The Tigers are still expected to add clout to their management. Johnson may be off limits, but there has been speculation about English candidates such as Stuart Lancaster and Mike Ford, or familiar foreign names, Wayne Smith and Jake White.
Chief executive Simon Cohen previously had a close working relationship with Jim Mallinder, who was released by Northampton last year.