Rugby: Blues boss Redman backing Kirwan - for now

Blues coach John Kirwan. Photo / Getty Images

John Kirwan has received the backing of Blues chief executive Michael Redman following the team's defeat to the Lions last night which has left them in last place in the competition.

However, the clock appears to be ticking on Kirwan's reign.

Redman said there would be a mid-season review, as there was at the franchise last year for the first time, and all the signs suggest a decision will be made then about whether to stick with Kirwan or offer the role to the market.

The mid-season point in terms of competition games would be on April 10 when the Blues play the Brumbies at Eden Park. That match follows three difficult away fixtures to the Hurricanes, Waratahs and Chiefs.

"We went into this season knowing this was the last year of his current contract, that at some point during the year there would need to be a review about whether or not we're going to be reappointing or whether we're going to go to the market. That timetable is in place and we'll stick to that timetable," Redman today told Tony Veitch on Newstalk ZB.

"Last year we had a mid-season review for the first time. It helped to improve the way the team performed in the second half of the year. We'll do that. That will be the first time we will sit down formally and look at how things are travelling. John is aware of how he's going to be reviewed this year and he's working towards that but we're not going to do it through the media. We're not going to put a timetable or dates on it which will just create more pressure on people."

Redman added following the Blues' 13-10 loss to the previously winless Lions at North Harbour: "Right now the entire organisation is backing John and his players to win against the Hurricanes on Friday.

"We're four weeks in, it's not been a good start at all, a whole lot of things have transpired in those four games but it doesn't really matter how we got here, we are here.
What people expect us to do is turn it around. Our fans want wins, results, they want to see a team they can be proud of and that's what we have to put our focus on."

Redman said he understood why fans might be losing patience, but stated that no-one had been approached as Kirwan's replacement.