New Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley believes that he has what it takes to turn around a Scottish side on the slide. The Scotsman's David Ferguson reports.
"The SRU's struggles to increase investment in the professional teams has led it to a coach in Michael Bradley who perhaps knows better than anyone how to maintain focus and motivation against the odds, having led the fourth province in Ireland. The IRFU tried to disband Connacht at one stage but reconsidered after supporters marched in the streets alongside players holding banners insisting that they must remain. That was perhaps the big difference between the Irish team and the Borders, who the SRU closed twice with little more than a whimper from rugby supporters across the South district. The proviso with the IRFU was that Connacht would survive, but only with decreased funding.
"After finishing a bright ninth in his first season in 2003-4, Bradley's team occupied the bottom spot in the Magners League for each of the last three seasons, having been spared the last position by the Borders and Glasgow in the three years before that.
"The personable 48-year-old was welcomed to Edinburgh yesterday by Craig Docherty, the Edinburgh chief executive. Asked what made Bradley the top candidate, Docherty said: "Michael has vast experience and the determination to ensure the club goes from strength to strength."
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