Northampton Saints have sacked Jim Mallinder, with attack coach Alan Dickens taking over as interim head coach.
With the team underwhelming over the last few seasons since winning the Aviva Premiership title, the board has obviously decided to change things up.
“The board and major shareholders felt that the time was right for some change,” said chairman John White. “This is not a decision that has been taken lightly. Jim has been an outstanding director of rugby.
“We have been very lucky to have him at Franklin’s Gardens and he will always be a part of the Saints family.”
Saints will now perform “an extensive search to find a world-class director of rugby”.
What do you think of this news? Is it the right time for change? Who would you like to see take over?
Not before time. West and the rest should go too. Should be the first thing any new manager coming in to do.
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It is such a shame that it came to this, Jim was at the top of the game a few years ago but results speak for themselves and although the players ultimately get out on the park it was apparent that Jim had not prepared them well enough to be competitive. This would have been an easier pill to swallow if he had made the decision himself, now time for West to do the honorable thing. Wish Jim well in the future (but not too well against Saints :))
We have seen players move away from Saints and gone from strength to strength, that would hurt if Jim did the same.
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yes Jim had to go but i felt it was more West that was the issue. Our forward pack has been under powered for years we get shoved around in scrums, we dont generate enough quick ball and we lack the kind of line breakers that allow the backs to play with front foot ball.
Unfortunately Jim is very loyal to West and wouldn’t ask him to leave.
The success we have had in the past has been more off the back of stand out forwards dragging up the standard rather then the Exeter forwards model of everyone doing the basics well
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The big worry now is how long will Harry stick around now that his dad has been fired. He has been by far our best player all season
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I hope he comes to Quins
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I hope he comes to Leicester, Danny, instead
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I hope he avoids Sarries
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I hope he comes to my party
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I believe a Midlands switch to the Tigers would be great for him, an excellent back up to Toomua and as a great fullback would be a great back up to Veainu. And also without his daddy Voldemort there, we can see if he truly deserves a first-team spot at a top 4 side
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Top 4?
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Hands off
you can have his dad but Harry has plenty of years left on his contract
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Wouldn’t be the first time a youngster had moved because of dad. Ruan Ackermann the latest example.
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must have deep pockets he’s contracted til 2020
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Some interesting names being bandied about as potential successors to Mallinder
Heyneke Meyer
Dean Richards
Ali Heapher
Stuart Lancaster
Pat Lam
Wayne Smith
Unfortunately the top name seems to be Mike Ford which would be a disaster
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