Ford: Clubs must stick together when bullets fly
ENGLAND and Leicester fly-half George Ford has warned against the sacking culture which is prevalent in football being replicated in rugby following the dismissal of Jim Mallinder at Northampton Saints.
Mallinder won the Premiership title in 2014 but had seen his side fall to their eighth successive defeat in all competitions.
At Bath, Ford saw the departures of Gary Gold as director of rugby in 2013 before his father Mike Ford was sacked as head coach last May.
“I feel very sorry for Jim Mallinder who did a great job at Northampton,” Ford said. “It is the way the game is going and there has been a fair bit of it going on in the last few years.
“People want success and change things if it does not happen, but with clubs getting better now it is difficult for one team to dominate.
“I hope clubs back their directors of rugby when they need support in tough times. You do not want it going like football. Everyone goes through a rough patch: it is about sticking together when the bullets are flying and emerging stronger.”
Ford’s father, Mike, has been linked with a move to take over at Northampton on an interim basis.
Former England coach Stuart Lancaster has also been linked with the job but Leinster boss Leo Cullen hopes to retain his services after Lancaster signed a two-year deal last summer.
Cullen said: “Stuart can talk for Stuart. He seems pretty happy and we’re pretty happy with Stuart as well.
“He has come in and added a huge amount, not just in the coaching part because there are so many other parts to it as well. Hopefully he will be part of the group moving forward.”