White on Tigers' hit list
Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:35
World Cup-winning former Springbok coach Jake White is the most high profile name on a list of contenders to take over at Leicester after the departure of head coach Marcelo Loffreda.
Former Argentina coach Loffreda has left Welford Road just six months into what was thought to be a two-and-a-half-year contract after taking the Tigers to two finals - the Guinness Premiership and EDF Energy Cup - but losing both.
That failure cost him his job and the Leicester board are now considering their options.
They must now decide whether to pursue another overseas appointment, or keep their coaching structure in-house.
White has not been involved in coaching since his Springboks contract expired after South Africa's 15-6 World Cup final victory over England in Paris last year.
He has been linked with several subsequent jobs, including head coach of England and Ireland, and Leicester - five times Premiership champions and twice Heineken Cup winners - could prove an attractive proposition.
An internal reshuffle is possible, given that former England internationals Richard Cockerill and Neil Back were part of Loffreda's support staff, while another Leicester and England favourite Austin Healey has repeatedly been linked with a backs coaching job.
Loffreda though, who masterminded Argentina's third place in last year's World Cup - the Pumas beat France twice and Ireland - has paid the price for falling short of Tigers' immense standards.
Leicester chairman Peter Tom was non-committal, however, saying:"No decision has been made on a new appointment, but we expect to have a new rugby structure in place ready for the players' return to pre-season training".
Several of Leicester's first team squad are currently overseas, either with England in New Zealand or England Saxons at the Churchill Cup in North America.
