So, what IS wrong with freefalling Edinburgh?

Capital men are on course to be worst ever under Hodge

DUNCAN HODGE’S men are in danger of becoming the worst Edinburgh team ever following the longest losing streak in the history of the club.

Saturday’s 21-6 defeat away to Treviso in the Guinness Pro12 was their ninth reverse in a row, including the European Challenge Cup loss to La Rochelle.

And the worst seems yet to come for the capital outfit, who have yet to win a league game this year under interim head coach Hodge and have only four Pro12 victories to their name all season.

Their worst record since the competition was introduced as a 12-team league 14 years ago was a total of six wins. With two matches left, against Newport Gwent Dragons and Glasgow Warriors, they are on course statistically for the club’s worst-ever showing.

Richard Cockerill has a huge rebuilding job on his hands when he replaces Hodge in the summer.

Here, Sportsmail examines why the team are in such a dreadful state.

NOT GETTING RID OF ALAN SOLOMONS SOONER

The South African head coach should have been jettisoned after his initial two-year contract period ended in May 2016, but was instead handed a 12-month extension by the SRU which plunged the club into further turmoil.

Edinburgh had finished eighth twice then dropped to ninth during Solomons’ underwhelming spell in charge. Finally, last September, just two months into his extension, he was sacked with the team struggling near the foot of the table again.

Solomons should have been replaced by an experienced man a lot earlier to allow rebuilding work to begin. Instead, assistant Hodge (below) was the only option left to helm a sinking ship.

LACK OF LEADERSHIP ON THE PARK

Edinburgh need one single inspirational captain next season rather two cocaptains who are failing to do the job. Second row Grant Gilchrist and hooker Ross Ford have both skippered Scotland before but, between them, they aren’t guiding their club with any great clarity.

This was a club that only a few years ago had the hugely experienced Greig Laidlaw as captain but, when he left to join Gloucester, Solomons replaced him with the totally anonymous Mick Coman.

It was also Solomons’ decision to award the role jointly to Gilchrist and Ford, who haven’t led by example often enough. Flanker Hamish Watson should be the main man next term after showing more leadership on the pitch than anyone else.

LACK OF LEADERSHIP OFF THE PARK

Hodge’s time as acting head coach has been a disaster. His assistant Stevie Scott, who works with the forwards, has done a decent job but Peter Wilkins’ spell as defence coach has been an embarrassment. Edinburgh have made a good appointment in Cockerill as head coach. He is a strict disciplinarian and someone who demands respect. He’ll crack the whip and surely bring out the best in the players he inherits.

A LACK OF TEAM SPIRIT

That has been highly evident, especially over the

last few weeks, and is partly due to the fact there are too many journeymen in the squad with no real affinity for the club.

Solomons bought quantity rather than quality and few of his signings stayed around too long.

Even the decent ones never made much of an impression. Nasi Manu is a case in point, partly due to injury, and he will depart for Treviso at the end of the season.

INJURY PROBLEMS

Admittedly, any team would have struggled without experienced props Alasdair Dickinson and Willem Nel for most of the season. There have been no replacements of their standard, which means the Edinburgh scrum has struggled.

Murray McCallum started at loose-head prop and Scotland international Simon Berghan at tight-head prop in the weekend loss to Treviso, with Hodge admitting the set-piece has been a problem.

LACK OF CLUB IDENTITY AND CONNECTION WITH FANS

Until the turn of the year, Edinburgh were attracting crowds of around 3,500 at the 67,400-capacity Murrayfield. There was no need for fans to buy a season ticket ... as they were always going to get in.

Realising the team could not continue to play there because of the crippling lack of atmosphere, the SRU took the decision to move the club to Myreside, which has a capacity of around 5,000.

The mid-season move was a resounding success to begin with, but attendances have fallen dramatically following the poor run of league form.

YOUNGER PLAYERS HAVEN’T KICKED ON

Damien Hoyland made his Scotland debut against Japan last summer but the 23year-old winger hasn’t figured for the national team since.

Part of the reason, no doubt, is that being part of a dreadful club side has sapped his confidence. There was a glaring example of this against Treviso when Hoyland failed to take advantage of a two-man overlap, instead playing the ball back into the forwards. A more confident player would have thrown the ball wide and gone for the try. Other young players have yet to reach their full potential, with centre Chris Dean someone who could do well in the future despite enduring a difficult campaign.

NO ONE HAS NAILED DOWN No 10 JERSEY

Duncan Weir was dropped for the defeat to Treviso because, according to Hodge, he was ‘out of sorts’. Weir (below) hasn’t become a bad player overnight but must raise his game. The same goes for his only rival for the No 10 jersey, Welshman Jason Tovey, who has struggled in open play. Not having a man who can regularly run the game has hit Edinburgh hard. The decision-making in such a key position has been noticeably poor. Compare with Glasgow, who have Finn Russell as well as new signing Adam Hastings. Versatile Warrior Peter Horne can also play there.

NO STAR NAME TO EXCITE FANS

In recent years, Edinburgh had the likes of winger Tim Visser whose runs up the line got the fans on their feet. Centre Matt Scott scored tries from the midfield, while David Denton’s crunching tackles from the back row were top quality. Nobody in the current side sets the pulse racing.

Closest to a star player this season has been Scotland flanker Hamish Watson. It is vitally important Edinburgh make a topclass signing for next season to rejuvenate things.

SAM HIDALGO-CLYNE HAS FAILED TO FULFIL POTENTIAL

The scrum-half was being tipped to take over from Laidlaw as Scotland No 9 after the 2015 World Cup. It never happened, with Ali Price of Glasgow Warriors now Laidlaw’s deputy and heir apparent to his place in the national team.

Hidalgo-Clyne is exciting on his day but isn’t even a first-pick for Edinburgh this season, with Nathan Fowles and Sean Kennedy vying for the jersey. An on-form Hidalgo-Clyne next season is vital.