McGeechan awaiting Quins’ next move
FORMER British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan insists he has not received any contact from Harlequins about taking over at The Stoop.
The Scot is a free agent after parting company with Wasps in May and is seen as the ideal replacement for Dean Richards, who quit as director of rugby in the wake of the “bloodgate” scandal.
But McGeechan says he hasn’t heard anything from the Quins about the position and says he is keeping his options open.
“Harlequins are probably getting sorted out what they want,” McGeechan said. “There has has been no contact, no conversations.
“I’ve got to make sure that it is right. I never plan things in my life about what I do and where I do it but you would have to think about if the thing is there.”
McGeechan guided Wasps to Premiership and Heineken Cup glory in his time at Adams Park, before leading the Lions for the third time on their tour of South Africa this summer. But the 62-year-old admits he is tempted to pursue a life away from rugby and focus his attentions on the business world.
“I have been doing some business coaching, which I have quite enjoyed. I hope to be going forward with one of the current Lions sponsors over the next four years in a quite exciting role, which is linked to a little bit of rugby coaching and also business.”
Quins, however, will be hoping to lure McGeechan to The Stoop in a bid to halt a disappointing start to the season which has yielded just one league win from their opening five matches under head coach John Kingston.
But while Quins are deliberating, Bath yesterday made their move to secure the future of head coach Steve Meehan for an extra two years.
Meehan, 42, has signed a contract extension to keep him at the Recreation Ground until 2012.
“I’m very happy to be staying,” he said. “To continue working with these players, for this club and its supporters, is a real privilege.”