Rugby: Appraisal may save John Kirwan's job

John Kirwan is believed to be on the brink of reappointment. Photo / Getty Images

Speaking for the first time about his plan to save the Blues, Sir John Kirwan said yesterday that he's given the board a brutally honest appraisal about his own failings and how they have impacted on the club.

Kirwan also said he has laid out a vision that will see new coaching staff arrive and improvements made to selection and other processes.

As the Herald revealed yesterday, Kirwan is believed to be on the brink of reappointment, with the board moving towards approving his plan for 2016.

Kirwan refused to go into much detail but said on Newstalk ZB: "I really trust [Blues chief executive] Michael [Redman] and the board to do their due diligence and make the right decision.

"I had to present where we were and what we need to do to continue to turn the club around. I thought it was one of the most important meetings of my life and I wanted to make sure I did that thoroughly.

"I faced up to where I think my deficiencies are and where I need to improve those and where we actually are with the club and where we need to go. It was a huge meeting."

Kirwan said his presentation covered off a range of areas - which included the make-up of future coaching personnel. His long-time assistant Grant Doorey is leaving for London Irish and Isa Nacewa, having retired, has changed his mind and is returning to Leinster as a player.

Kirwan is expected to add Crusaders assistant Tabai Matson to his coaching group next season.

"I went through the process of the things that are important to me - selection, staff mix and the things I need to do. We have got some [coaching] personnel leaving.

"What I tried to do was to identify what we need to do - including coaching staff. To understand what you need to do to turn things around, we need to understand what our deficiencies are and where our strengths are.

"What is happening for me [at the Blues] is that there is a whole lot of great stuff. I really trust Michael - he is building the club from the backroom through. I believe the board will do their due diligence and if they think I am the right man to take this club forward..."

Kirwan said he has been given no indication yet as to whether he will be reappointed or when a decision is likely to be made. He did, however, reveal that he has been hugely disappointed by the results this year as he had thought that the team would be at the other end of the table by his third year in charge.

"I think I always knew this was going to be a hard turnaround job. I thought the third year, we would get some decent results. Most turnarounds are three to five years. But there has been 13 years of non-success [at the Blues] and there is a lot of good things happening behind the scenes ... but I know people can't see it.

"I will be the first one to admit that I made mistakes and I accept those. The most important thing is to not make them again and have the ability to know what you need to do to not make them again."