Cockerill is keen to sign new deal at Edinburgh

RICHARD Cockerill has shot down suggestions that the club.he could be set to

leave Edinburgh — and insists he would happily sign a new contract with

With Cockerill’s current deal set to expire next summer, Gloucester had identified him as their No 1 target to take over as head coach and tried to lure him back to the English Premiership earlier this month.

However, although an approach was made, Cockerill insists it never got past the stage of being anything more than informal talks.

Ultimately, any chance of a move was scuppered by the ongoing management upheaval at the Kingsholm club and the departure of director of rugby David Humphreys.

With SRU chief executive Mark Dodson having since stated a desire to retain Cockerill’s services beyond next summer, it seems that the feeling is mutual.

Reaffirming his commitment to the capital club, the Englishman insists he would be all ears if the offer of a new contract was forthcoming.

‘I am out of contract next May and if the Union want me to stay on, then I am very open to that. I have never alluded to anything different,’ said Cockerill (below).

‘We’ve got a good group of players, a new stadium, we are headed in the right direction, so it is all positive.

‘Things are going to be slightly different now because of the budget and those sorts of things but you just have to work with it.

‘The whole world is in a difficult place at the moment because of the pandemic.

‘So I’d be happy to stay but there are a few things to discuss before we get to that point.

‘There’s no real timescale around it. At the moment, it’s not a good time to be negotiating anything, really. Unless you’re the buyer. If you’re a seller, it’s not a good time.

‘I have a good relationship with Mark and the board, there’s good communication, so there are no surprises. ‘I’m happy with where I’m at and comfortable where I sit at the moment. ‘In terms of Gloucester, I was aware they had made contact with my agent and we had a discussion around that. It was nothing more. I am very committed here. ‘It is always flattering to be associated with different jobs. Gloucester are a good club and I’m sure they will get the person who is right for them, but, at this moment in time, that is not me. ‘I don’t really have any plans (for the long term). I never have done as a coach. ‘I just work hard and get today right and the job done here. ‘I don’t think you necessarily have to move to the Premiership or to France for that success. ‘I don’t see why Edinburgh can’t be a force in the European game, so we just need to keep building and working here. ‘There is a good player base, lots of positive things happening, so we just have to make it work here.’ Edinburgh’s squad has been boosted this week with the additions of locks Andrew Davidson and Marshall Sykes, as well as hooker Sam Kitchen yesterday. Cockerill revealed those three deals may well conclude the club’s recruitment business for the summer, although he admitted they are slightly lighter in squad than he would ideally prefer.

After a move for Australian fly-half Jono Lance collapsed earlier this month, budget restraints around the Covid-19 pandemic have left Cockerill unable to sign a replacement.

That leaves Jaco van der Walt as the No1 stand-off, with Scotland Under-20s star Nathan Chamberlain now set to be thrust firmly into the spotlight much earlier than expected.

Chamberlain is a gifted young fly-half who scored a hat-trick in Scotland’s 52-17 win over Wales in the Under-20s Six Nations in March.

Asked if his development will now be accelerated, Cockerill said: ‘Yeah, definitely. We have Jaco with us and Nathan’s just moved up, so if you do the maths, we have two 10s — one will be playing and one on the bench.

‘So Nathan’s going to get his opportunity playing quicker than if we had another player there.

‘Budgets may ease with time and we may be able to go back into what will be a very different marketplace because there will be players looking for work.

‘But Nathan has done a very good job in the Under-20s. He will get his opportunity because of circumstance. The chance is for him to grasp and take it on.

‘Obviously, Jono Lance not gaining his visa to work in this country has been a bit of a disappointment and due to the current situation we haven’t now got the budget to replace that position, so it presents a great opportunity for Nathan.

‘Young men given opportunities can surprise you. We’ve had a lot of those guys come through the system so far in the last three years and hopefully there will be one of two more this year.’