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Tigers turn to former Ireland and England coach to beat the drop - reports
By Alex Shaw
With the 2018/19 Gallagher Premiership rapidly approaching the end of the regular season, perennial powerhouse Leicester Tigers have found themselves in an unwelcome position.
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The side from the East Midlands are currently just five points above bottom-placed Newcastle Falcons, with five games left to go in the regular season, which include possible ‘eight-pointers’ against both Newcastle and Bristol Bears.
Leicester have lost four of their last five games in the Premiership, including one to fellow relegation-battlers Worcester Warriors, and it seems as if enough is enough for the bosses at Welford Road.
According to a report in the Mail on Sunday, Leicester are set to bring Mike Ford in to assist Geordan Murphy and help the 10-times champions of England move away from the battle at the bottom and secure their Premiership future.
The report states that it is likely only to be a short-term contract offered to Ford, with the coaching set-up at the club then set to change in the summer, with Australian head coach Michael Cheika one of the names linked with a director of rugby role, working alongside Murphy as a head coach.
Ford, 53, has been out of full-time coaching since 2016 when he and Bath parted ways, but the former rugby league man has since worked with both Toulon and the German national team, whilst a slated role as director of rugby with the Dallas Griffins has been delayed due to the Texas side not yet entering Major League Rugby.
The move would see Ford link up with his son George, with the two last working together during their time at Bath, as well as George’s brother, Joe.
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As a defence coach with Ireland and England, Ford built impressive units and he will have to do the same again at Leicester, with the side from the East Midlands boasting the worst points differential in the Premiership, with the 62 tries they have conceded the joint-worst in the competition.
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