MURRAY KIDD'S tenure as coach to the Ireland team is over and he will not be in charge of the side for the opening match in the International Championship against France at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week. Kidd's departure comes in the wake of a meeting yesterday morning between the officers of the IRFU and the election sub committee of the union, the body responsible for appointing the coach.

There will be an interim appointment as coach prior to the match against France but until such time as Kidd's resignation is formalised there will not be any appointment made in deference to the outgoing coach and the sensitivity of an extremely unfortunate situation. But Ireland's recurring pattern of defeat, compounded by the appalling display against Italy, has now had the inevitable consequence.

Confirmation of Kidd's departure will come during the week once details of the terms of the severance of his contract are formally agreed with the IRFU. Kidd may well be given the option to resign, but whatever about the method and details surrounding his departure, Ireland's defeat by Italy last Saturday was the end of the road for the New Zealander, the first non national to coach the Ireland side.

Contrary to suggestions, Kidd, unlike the manager, Pat Whelan, an honorary appointment, was not appointed as coach up to and including the World Cup in 1999. His contract with the IRFU contains a clause which allows termination by either side at two months notice. The options embraced in that clause will now be exercised.

There was, in fact, a delay before he signed a new contract this season. He only put pen to paper in October and that was after protracted negotiations.

There are legal aspects to Kidd's departure as he is a full time employee of the IRFU. These are likely to be completed within the next day or two. I understand Kidd is likely to be offered a severance payment of about £30,000. That may be negotiable. Until the legal formalities are completed, it is unlikely that the IRFU will make any formal statement nor would one expect one in deference to all concerned. The hope is that the matter can be finalised quickly and with dignity and delicacy.

Whelan said last night: "I would rather not comment on the situation in relation to the coach in the current delicate situation. Any statement that may be made must come from the IRFU." But Whelan is clearly unhappy with Ireland's performances and his comment at the post match pass conference on Saturday was in itself revealing about Ireland's performances. "Ireland's play is devoid of any concerted or discernible pattern" he said.

The meeting yesterday morning, was not an emergency meeting of the union. In fact it had been scheduled to take place a month ago and would have gone ahead irrespective of the result and performance given against Italy. Such meetings take place regularly during the season. But events last Saturday obviously gave an added edge and significance to the meeting. Whelan as Ireland manager, and the link between team and union, attends these meetings and did so yesterday. Kidd does not, nor was he invited to do so yesterday.

Commenting on the meeting IRFU president Bobby Deacy said: "The meeting took place as scheduled and it would be correct to say that all aspects of Ireland's performances to date this season were discussed as were the coaching, management and selectorial aspects. That is standard procedure." Then, significantly, he added: "It would be correct to say we now have grave concerns about the level and nature of Ireland's recent performances." The president would not comment specifically on Kidd's impending departure.

The members of the election sub committee of the IRFU all of whom were present at the meeting yesterday - are Eddie Coleman, who is chairman of the subcommittee, Syd Millar, last season's IRFU president and Noel Murphy, junior vice president of the IRFU. Coleman is a former chairman of the Ireland selectors, while both Millar and Murphy are former Ireland coaches.

Kidd was appointed in October 1995 and was the first full time professional coach appointed to the Ireland side. His appointment came after the game was declared "open" at a meeting of the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) at a meeting in Paris the previous August.

The election sub committee had decided contrary to usual procedure when the appointment is in place for the IRFU a.g.m. in June to defer the appointment pending the outcome of the IRFB meeting.

Kidd was not first choice. Queensland coach John Connolly, then coaching Old Belvedere on a short term contract, was approached about his availability but decided against taking the position because of his commitments with Queensland. Former Australia coach Bob Dwyer was also approached by the sub committee after he had failed to get re elected as Australian coach. He was then under contract to Racing Club in Paris and that commitment, allied to what he described as "business commitments in Australia," forced him to withdraw from consideration, as did Willie Anderson, who had been asked about his availability. Kidd, coaching the Sunday's Well club at the time, was then appointed.

There is only one precedent for the departure of a coach to the Ireland side during a season. That was in November 1992 when Ciaran Fitzgerald resigned four days after Ireland had lost to Australia and in the aftermath of a series of defeats for the Ireland team. But Fitzgerald, an honorary official, voluntarily stepped aside in what he believed to be the best interests of the team and in the hope that a fresh approach would prove beneficial. He was succeeded by Gerry Murphy, who occupied the position until the summer of 1995 after the World Cup.