RUGBY Ford comes in to save Leicester

LEICESTER TIGERS have taken urgent action to address their slide into the Premiership relegation danger zone by appointing Mike Ford as a senior coach.

The former Bath head coach is due to start work for the Tigers tomorrow. The Mail on Sunday understands he has initially been appointed on a short-term contract to assist rookie head coach Geordan Murphy in his quest to guide the club to safety.

He will also be teaming up with his son George, who is the East Midland side’s fly-half.

A series of dire results have seen Leicester plunge to 10th in the table and, with five matches of the regular season remaining, they find themselves just five points above bottom club Newcastle Falcons.

With league leaders Exeter Chiefs coming to Welford Road next weekend, the Tigers are likely to face a crunch survival clash with the Falcons at Kingston Park on April 12.

Ford will bring vast experience, having also previously coached Ireland, the Lions and Toulon. His most recent post was as head coach of Germany.

Details about Ford’s remit are not clear but he is thought to have a good rapport with Murphy, who was an Ireland player when Ford was serving as the team’s defence coach.

Beyond this season, the coaching team is likely to be the subject of a fresh review with Leicester already understood to have made enquiries about recruiting Australia head coach Michael Cheika after the World Cup.

Meanwhile, in another response to the Tigers’ slump, sources have suggested that head of recruitment Ged Glynn is being removed from his post. Rumours have pointed to him being re-assigned duties.