Departure of Cockerill

[Smudge]

Well no one on this board will be surprised at my reaction to the news.
I take no delight at anyone getting the sack but Tigers are bigger than any individual.
The only surprise is that it didn't happen five or six years ago.
He has always been out of his depth, promoted too far for his abilities.
At least, no one can say he wasn't given time or support from the board.
Far to much for many.

The king is dead, long live the king.

[jgriffin]

Well no one on this board will be surprised at my reaction to the news.
I take no delight at anyone getting the sack but Tigers are bigger than any individual.
The only surprise is that it didn't happen five or six years ago.
He has always been out of his depth, promoted too far for his abilities.
At least, no one can say he wasn't given time or support from the board.
Far to much for many.

The king is dead, long live the king.

If you say something for long enough you stand a good chance of being justified (e.g. the Queen is dead). Alas, this is your fate.

[Big Dai]

Here we go then! The dawn of a new era. Personally I thought more performances like yesterday would have been enough for him to keep his job......but apparently not. Deano revisited?

"The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again, no, no"

So you're a Who fan then Dai?
Greatest band ever!
Irony is that the song is from the album Who's Next.
So who is the next DoR then?

Yep. Saw them at the Granby Halls. Now the car park! It was the "Change it had to come" line that was in my head. That and when change has come in the past it hasn't always been good for us. We will see.

[Qbec]

Perhaps now this forum can focus more on giving this team & all the coaches our up most support for the rest of the season.
Without so much of the "happyclapper & doommungers" we are all in this together so let's just pull the team / club onwards & upwards to what we all desire for this great club of ours.

Thank you Richard for all the year's of hard work you've given to this club

[MCC1964]

Well no one on this board will be surprised at my reaction to the news.

Correct

I take no delight at anyone getting the sack

Incorrect. You clearly are in this case and your feelings are well documented.

He has always been out of his depth, promoted too far for his abilities.

Clearly absolute tosh. His record speaks for itself.

That's not to say that change isn't / wasn't required. He should have been afforded the respect and loyalty (that Tom thanks him for in the club statement ironically) to have until the end of the season to turn this around. If not then you sweep clean and get rid of them all. I have not been impressed with Mauger either, nor with Murphy or Blaze. But you can guarantee that Tom, Cohen and Wheeler are still going to be around for years to come too. Turkeys don't vote for Christmas.

[Bowden Tiger]

Smudge, I don't know, and perhaps we never will, know the full story. But I do question wether he has been supported by the board. The rumour mill, and I have heard it from different sources, has it that he was refused funding for cover in the backs for the long term injuries that we have.

[HantsTiger]

Like many have already said, the writing was on the wall but you cannot fault all that RC has achieved and I wish him well in the future. I was chatting with my Wuss supporting mate and suggested that they take him as a consultant to the end of the season as they're in the poop.....

I wonder if the timing is more to do with the contract window opening and we can now say that we'll have a new shiny DOR in place for next season when we contact players?

[LE18]

Smudge, I don't know, and perhaps we never will, know the full story. But I do question wether he has been supported by the board. The rumour mill, and I have heard it from different sources, has it that he was refused funding for cover in the backs for the long term injuries that we have.

Maybe a wise decision after the De Villiers disaster, I heard he was taken on at a huge monthly salary, but cannot prove that.

[sapajo]

This is not the time to rejoice and celebrate the departure of Cockeriil. He has lost his job having been a longstanding servant to the club. The board have made the decison and the fans need to get behind the team for the remainder of the season. It is going to be a fight and further struggles may be ahead.
Just want to thank Cockerill for all that he has contributed to the Club over the last 24-25 years, as a player, coach and Director of Rugby.
Wishing him all the best for the future.

Very well said Tigerbeats, this is a very black day for Tigers the players, the coaches and the board are all culpable in the demise of Cockers a magnificent Tiger and frankly this debacle reeks to high heaven.

[GS]

It's never a pretty sight seeing someone being told to clear his desk but I think it's for the best. Pugnacious, belligerent, committed, faithful, hard working with Tigers written through every bone in his body - yes. A creative, flexible and imaginative thinker - sadly not. Can we find someone with all these attributes? I rather think not. Instead I hope we can find a DOR/Head Coach, or whatever he is called, who can not only mould a team of players but specialist coaches too.

It's sad that it's come to this but I wish Cockers good luck with whatever the future holds.

[tigerburnie]

I thought getting rid of Deano was a mistake and still do, I also think getting rid of Cockers is a mistake and probably always will.
The club will go on, all clubs are bigger than any individual, but not all clubs are Leicester Tigers and I fear our identity could be evaporating with the loss of their ethos that is ingrained and hard won. I have no idea who will come in, but I hope they have a Tigers connection as without it the club will not be the same.
Tigers are becoming unique in that for the most part, they are still a "club" rather than a franchise and in this money driven world, could end up compromising the values we have been used to.
Cockers has been hampered by financial constraints that some other clubs DoR's don't seem to have had the same trouble with.
I believe that this decision is not going to change anything results wise, unless other changes are also made.
This has the feel of "scapegoat" to me.

[sapajo]

I thought getting rid of Deano was a mistake and still do, I also think getting rid of Cockers is a mistake and probably always will.
The club will go on, all clubs are bigger than any individual, but not all clubs are Leicester Tigers and I fear our identity could be evaporating with the loss of their ethos that is ingrained and hard won. I have no idea who will come in, but I hope they have a Tigers connection as without it the club will not be the same.
Tigers are becoming unique in that for the most part, they are still a "club" rather than a franchise and in this money driven world, could end up compromising the values we have been used to.
Cockers has been hampered by financial constraints that some other clubs DoR's don't seem to have had the same trouble with.
I believe that this decision is not going to change anything results wise, unless other changes are also made.
This has the feel of "scapegoat" to me.

Spot on Burnie Be very careful what you wished to, now more than ever springs to mind. Standby.

[TigerCam]

You could never ever raise any doubt that RC has always had the club in his heart and soul. Truly dedicated as a player and coach .

It has always been at the back of my mind for many months that maybe it is precisely RC's dedication and his 'Tigers Way' that has brought about his demise? Sometimes it can cloud your vision, I have worked in many an industry and company over many years and have seen the reluctance to change stifle and make it uncompetitive.

I do hope that the board have had a very close look at themselves too and are willing to accept a full change of direction and do, as Sarries, Wasps have done, re-generated. It won't happen in the short term but the Tigers cannot afford to continue to slip down the Prem/Euro rankings. They don't have a sugar-daddy to resort to so it make it all the more difficult.

I do wish Cockers the very best for his future. I have enjoyed our short chats in the past.

Cockers will do very well elsewhere maybe not as a DoR but as a damn good scrummaging coach for another team - probably France, I suspect?

[fleabane]

(Posted on wrong thread)

[sebco]

Very sad news, the man has green blood and always had the clubs best interests at heart. Good luck for the future Cockers and thank you for everything you have done for us. Personally i think its a huge mistake by the board, right up there with when they let Deano go and a completely unnecessary knee jerk reaction after what had been an excellent showing against the reigning champions and a game we could easily have won were it not for some appalling refereeing. Thanks for the memories Cockers.