ULSTER ARE ON the hunt for a new CEO after Jonny Petrie became the latest casualty from what has been a turbulent time this season at the Kingspan Stadium.
Petrie, who was appointed in 2019, follows former head coach Dan McFarland out the door at Ulster, the former head coach having been sacked in February after a poor run of results.
In a brief statement issued earlier today, Ulster Rugby confirmed that former Scotland international Petrie had left “by mutual agreement.”
The statement also explained that an interim CEO would be appointed ahead of recruiting for the position on what is presumed to be a permanent basis.
IRFU CEO Kevin Potts was quoted in the statement, which included no reaction from Petrie, and paid tribute to him: “The IRFU and Ulster Rugby thank Jonny for the five years spent with Ulster Rugby and wish him well, both personally and professionally, for the future.”
In the wake of McFarland’s removal, Ulster already have an interim head coach in place, Ireland U20s boss Richie Murphy having taken over the reins last week with his first involvement having been a defeat at the Sharks.
Appearing before the media last month to welcome Murphy on board and pay tribute to McFarland who had been in post since 2018, Petire made it clear that he intended to see things out at the troubled province with on field form and financial issues biting hard.
“It’s been fairly turbulent on the field and off the field, he said, “and I’m committed to what I do here, and I really care about seeing this province succeed.
“I want to see that through in the longer term.”
Speaking earlier today from South Africa, just prior to confirmation that Petrie had gone, Ulster assistant coach Roddy Grant said: “Pro sports teams are well used to head down, focusing and getting on with the job.
“You have to focus on the task in hand, players, staff you are judged on what you do so it quickly focuses the mind, you have to focus in performance.
“Rugby is an easy one for everyone and especially the players as come the weekend, you have some big South Africans who are going to be physical and you don’t have much room for anything else to consider than what’s in front of us at the weekend,” Grant said as the province prepare to play the Stormers on Saturday in Cape Town.
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