Bay battles rival unions for coaches

Bay of Plenty rugby bosses have acted quickly to retain their top coaches for next season, but rival union cheque books wafting around are helping fan rumours they'll head elsewhere.

Steamers coach Andre Bell is understood to be mulling over an approach from a rival first division union, while his assistant this year, Kevin Schuler, has been linked with the Hawke's Bay job.

But Bay of Plenty chief executive Paul Abbot is determined the duo won't go anywhere. It's understood the BOPRU board last night recommended the union offer Bell a two-year deal, which will be presented to him today.

Schuler, who also has a head-coaching role with Japanese club Yamaha, will remain as his preferred assistant.

"We had a review with both Herb and Andre last Thursday and a separate management team review on Friday," Abbot said.

"They were overwhelmingly positive."

Bell and Schuler were hired on short-term contracts at the start of the season to fill the void left by Vern Cotter, who took up a contract in France three months before the Air New Zealand Cup season.

The pair guided Bay of Plenty into the quarterfinals of the competition (the side eventually finished seventh) despite the heavy burden of reappointment hanging over their heads.

But the union has sped up the review process in the face of other interest and has reversed an earlier plan to readvertise the head coaching job.

"The simple fact is if we had readvertised Andre's position, we would have lost him," Abbot said. "Sure, we would have liked a few more wins but in reality he's done everything we've asked of him.

"He's built some excellent relationships between the elite coaches and the club coaches which we began to see the fruits of this season and which will only make the province stronger in years to come."

Rumours are doing the rounds in Napier that Schuler has the Magpies coaching job and incumbent Brendon Ratcliffe is refusing to hand his Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union truck back but union CEO Mike Bishop laughed those off.

"Brendon Ratcliffe is still the Kelt Capital Magpies coach. People tried to jump the gun last year before Brendon was reappointed," Bishop said.

"We are in the middle of a review process and I'm not prepared to comment further until it's complete ... there should be an announcement within the next couple of days," he added.

Schuler said he was not seeking the Magpies coaching job.

"I thought Brendon did a top job this season and he's got some good systems on the go in the Bay," said Schuler. A former Hawke's Bay property owner, Schuler said he would be visiting there within the next week.

John Plumtree's departure from Wellington has left a two- horse race in the capital for his job, with Joseph and current assistant Chris Boyd chasing the head coaching position.

Abbot has been aware of Bell's connection to Joseph for several weeks and has been in touch with his Wellington counterpart to discuss it.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES