Northland coaches tipped to stay

By CHRIS RATTUE

Bryce Woodward looks set to stay on as head coach of the Northland NPC side.

A meeting with the Northland union today is expected to put the final stamp on Woodward's remaining in charge, with Donny Stevenson staying as his assistant.

In an unusual arrangement, the union is considering retaining Woodward in a part-time role and employing Stevenson, a physical education teacher, fulltime.

Stevenson would then be able to put in more hours with developing players, as well as paying greater attention to video analysis and individual sessions with the NPC players.

Woodward has turned down the chance to become Northland's fulltime coach.

He owns a surveying, planning and land development business and says it would cost him too much money, which would not be fair on his family.

He would go fulltime only for a Super 12 job, which would involve a smaller financial sacrifice.

Woodward, who has missed out on Super 12 coaching jobs with the Blues and Chiefs, had considered stepping down or swapping roles with Stevenson.

But he has decided to continue pursuing %his goal of becoming a Super 12 coach, which %means he needs to remain as head coach.

"The New Zealand union has provided some funding for fulltime coaches, but I've spoken to people within the NZRFU and they are fully supportive of me being able to remain as head coach, with Donny being a fulltime assistant," Woodward said.

He has taken Northland from first division easy-beats to a respectable mid-table side in three seasons, when they have finished sixth, sixth and seventh.

Woodward hoped the departure of Hayden Taylor overseas would be Northland's only player loss, apart from the likely move of loan player James Arlidge.