Go for leader with an understanding of Scottish rugby, urges Gavin Hastings

AS THE hunt for a new chief executive to lead the Scottish Rugby Union begins today at a board meeting at Murrayfield, Gavin Hastings has urged the power-brokers to appoint an individual with a clear understanding of Scottish rugby.

There is no "crisis meeting" or even "emergency" status as the board moves on confidently to replace Gordon McKie, whose resignation was announced with immediate effect on Tuesday, but SRU president Ian McLauchlan is for the second time in a week making a quick trip into Murrayfield, this time from Italy where he is watching the Scotland under-20s compete in the IRB Junior World Championship.

Last week he had to break a family holiday to attend a hastily-arranged board meeting, which was the catalyst for McKie's departure.

Jock Millican will appear for the first time as interim chief executive and Allan Munro will take the chair for the last time for what was initially expected to be a short meeting today to sign off the SRU's accounts ahead of the AGM on Saturday, 25 June. But after Tuesday's events, the board will now launch the process of finding a new leader, which has gone to the top of its agenda.

A recruitment firm will be hired for the application process, with the board striving to find an individual with the skills, experience and strength of character to both build on the financial legacy of McKie and improve the core business of rugby.

Hastings, the former Scotland and British and Irish Lions captain, and recent Edinburgh chairman, believes the key lies with individual characteristics and a blend of financial and sporting nous, but insisted that knowledge of Scottish rugby was paramount.

"It comes down to the quality of the individual," he said, "but there is no doubt that you need an understanding of the game and appreciation that Scotland and Scottish rugby is unique.

"We can compare ourselves to Ireland and their provinces or aspects of Welsh rugby, but there are key differences in Scotland and I think it is important for a chief executive to realise that and understand it.

"We have a different culture where football dominates the sporting landscape in a way that it doesn't in Ireland and Wales, for example.

"The majority of our pro players still come from a fee-paying school background, which is something that has to be addressed when you see the number of talented youngsters we have playing the sport across the country.

"Of course, I don't think it has to be a Scot, and John Steele's name has been mentioned and he would seem a pretty good prospect to me with his experience, but he would have to demonstrate an understanding of what makes Scottish rugby tick.

"There is a lot of sorting out to be done, and that starts with the professional game."

He was backed by his successor as Edinburgh chairman, and another Grand Slam winner in Jim Calder. He is close to McKie and worked well with him since taking over the Edinburgh helm last year, but is hopeful that the change of leadership might open the door to fresh enthusiasm among potential sponsors or investors, some of whom have been disillusioned by happenings in recent years.

He said: "Gordon did a super job in the first four years or so when the place was in a considerable hole and most people recognise that. It's a different skill-set needed to grow the game, but whoever comes in will still find 60-70 per cent of their mind is focused on the financial side.

"For me, the key is that if Scotland are going to start to perform you need Edinburgh and Glasgow to perform and we've been behind the curve there. So there is a need for someone who can get into big discussions to bring in outside finance, which is not easy because it's such a high-cost venture. But there has to be another look at this because if we don't bring outside finance in we won't get anywhere, and I think there is a seam there to be explored again. I'm in two minds about whether a new chief executive has to have a strong rugby background. I think we need someone with political skills, experience of running and growing a decent-sized business and some rugby knowledge.

"One person that does spring to mind is Roger Baird (former Scotland winger and a successful businessman], and whether he is a potential CEO or perhaps a non-executive director, at some point we're going to have to bring people like that into the body of the kirk."Calder added: "What I've noticed in the last 12 months is that the issues facing the SRU are serious. It's easy to castigate the regime, but with a shortage of TV funding, a debt that has to be managed, and the level of competition getting stronger and stronger it is tough.

"But maybe now if we can assure investors that money is going to Edinburgh and Glasgow rather than into the SRU, and grasp small opportunities and build, and innovate, I believe we can get professional rugby in Scotland moving forward."