Ella's Leinster position shaky as unrest grows

Gary Ella's position as head coach of Leinster would appear to have become untenable, with confirmation of his departure expected to be received this week.

Although the personable 42-year-old Australian remains well liked by the players, it is clear the vast majority believe there should be a change forthwith and have made this known to Ella's employers within the Leinster Branch and the IRFU.

Despite a dismal season for the province, these employers are the same people who hurriedly hired Ella last summer, and it had not been expected they would draw attention on themselves by taking such drastic action - and they possibly wouldn't have but for the feelings of the players.

That said, the divisions within the playing camp seem to be more pronounced than ever, with some of the non-international players being considerably resentful of some of Ireland's Triple Crown contingent who, they believe, haven't been as committed as they ought to have been since resuming provincial duty in the Celtic League,

These players have also instigated this heave against Ella by going public with their grievances in the Sunday Times yesterday.

Like Leinster's defence under the departed Matt Williams, discipline seems to have deteriorated significantly under the mild-mannered Ella, with the bulk of the players utterly dismayed that ex-Munster coach and outgoing Irish assistant coach Declan Kidney has been lured by the Gwent Dragons.

There is also considerable disquiet amongst the players, especially the forwards, around the fact that Willie Anderson is apparently bound for Scotland where it is rumoured he will become Williams' assistant.

With team manager Ken Ging also due to step down after their concluding game of the season against the Gwent Dragons on Friday, it could be that Leinster's Team Management Committee (which comprises Mick Dawson, Bryan McLoughlin, branch president Louis Magee, incoming president Paddy Boylan and the IRFU's Caleb Powell) will view this as an opportune time to wipe the slate clean and start afresh with a new coaching ticket for next season.

It is believed that the terms of Ella's three-year contract (which still has two years to run) allow them to remove the Australian with six months' pay.

Nonetheless, it will draw attention to the selection panel which chose Ella in the first place, namely IRFU Director of Rugby Development Eddie Wigglesworth, Dawson, McLoughlin and John Hussey.

It is not even clear if Ella was formally interviewed for the job.

If he does depart this week, it will complete an embarrassing season for the Lions, in which there was also the infamous Felipe Contepomi registration gaffe and the state of the over-used Donnybrook dustbowl, which has forced them to move Friday's match to Lansdowne Road, and it could be that Ella's won't be the only head to roll.

Leinster's fortunes have slumped alarmingly on the pitch this season, following their failure to reach the knock-out stages of the Heineken European Cup this year for the first time, as well as a dismal Celtic League campaign which has seen them win just two of their last 11 games (against the Borders and Glasgow).

Matters began to reach a head after the 50-21 defeat by Llanelli on April 16th of a side containing eight of Ireland's Triple Crown- winning side. Leinster CEO Dawson held crisis talks with Ella and his assistant Anderson the following week, as well as with captain Reggie Corrigan, before a scheduled two-day review of the season.

"The Leinster Branch's Professional Team Management Committee will meet this week to discuss the findings of that two-day internal review, plus whatever has happened since," said a Leinster spokesperson. Leinster have since drawn 16-all at home to the Neath Swansea Ospreys before losing 28-6 away to Ulster last Friday.

Amongst the players there is huge sympathy for Ella, given the inordinate spate of injuries and World Cup withdrawals which left him without 20 players for last month's defeat to Connacht, as well as the Contepomi affair and the attitude of some players.

Ultimately, though, as one player put it yesterday, "it's clear that things will only get worse if there isn't a change. We're accepting defeats now.

"There's no structure, no gameplan, no hope, no future, no light at the end of the tunnel. It's a terrible shame that it's come to this but we need a new start."

There was also a rumour circulating amongst Leinster players yesterday that following the province's annual open day at Anglesea Road, attended by 2,000 children, Ella was informed by Dawson that if he didn't resign he would be sacked.

However, Ella could not be reached last night and Dawson was unavailable for comment yesterday despite a report yesterday Leinster were poised to axe their coach.