Shortly after Dan McFarland’s abrupt exit as Ulster’s head coach, chief executive Jonny Petrie dismissed any questions over his future at Ravenhill.
“I’m committed to what I do here,” the former Scotland back row forward told the Belfast Telegraph on February 26. “I really care about seeing this province succeed…”
Fast forward four weeks to last Monday and the standard platitude from Ulster thanking Petrie for his five years and wishing him well for the future.
Far from taking off on the strength of beating Leinster in Dublin on New Year’s Day, Ulster capitulated in the Champions Cup agains...