New Edinburgh coach Hodge inherits big problems from Solomons
BETTER late than never. That was the general verdict this year when Edinburgh Rugby announced they plan to move from Murrayfield to Myreside in January, and it surely also has to apply to yesterday’s news that Alan Solomons has stepped down as the team’s head coach, to be succeeded, at least in the short term, by Duncan Hodge.
Solomons, 64, is a highly knowledgeable and experienced coach, but it has become increasingly apparent over the opening weeks of the season that he has run out of ideas when it comes to helping Edinburgh improve.
The South African was under contract until next summer, having signed a one-year extension to his current deal at the end of 2015, but after Edinburgh’s poor finish to last season he began this campaign looking like a lame duck. Three defeats from four PRO12 matches have only enhanced that impression, because of the team’s stuttering style of play as much as the results themselves.
It always seemed anomalous that, while there is a succession plan in place for both Glasgow and the national team, with Dave Rennie joining the Warriors and Gregor Townsend replacing Vern Cotter at Murrayfield, nothing had been revealed about the future of Edinburgh. In retrospect, it appears plausible that Solomons, for one, simply had not thought that far ahead, having known in the back of his mind at least that he would be off.
The squad that Solomons leaves behind has a group of forwards that would be the envy of many teams, but the backs leave a lot to be desired. Attempts to introduce a more attacking game have so far only sown confusion in the ranks, appearing to weaken the team’s defensive solidity, hitherto one of its strong suits.
Dragging Edinburgh up the table from their present position of ninth would be a serious challenge for the most experienced of coaches. It remains to be seen whether Hodge will be able to use his knowledge of the players to effect the required improvements this season, or whether the team are set to embark on another period of transition. But whatever happens, the former Scotland stand-off certainly deserves his chance.
In the longer term, the future of Edinburgh, and the success or failure of the move to Myreside, may depend on whether Scottish Rugby manages to attract outward investment.
A special general meeting of clubs to be held at the end of next month will be asked to give the green light for a share in both Edinburgh and Glasgow to be sold, and the governing body would clearly welcome as much financial help as it can get.
Crucially, though, it wants to retain a controlling interest – in other words, contrary to one report yesterday, it is not “considering putting Edinburgh and Glasgow up for sale”.
It remains to be seen whether anyone wants to put serious money into a project which they cannot control. Although again, at least the SRU are attempting to come up with a solution to the problem of how to fund their two professional teams, albeit belatedly.