Glasgow Warriors sack head coach Danny Wilson
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Glasgow Warriors head Coach Danny Wilson is seen during the Guinness Pro14 match between Glasgow Warriors and Ulster on February 19, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Glasgow Warriors have sacked head coach Danny Wilson in the wake of their 76-14 United Rugby Championship quarter-final defeat to Leinster.
The hammering capped a meek end to the URC season for Warriors, who lost six of their final eight matches.
Managing director Al Kellock said their form “has not been acceptable”.
Wilson, 45, departs following two seasons in charge of the club after taking over from Dave Rennie.
“We are a proud organisation and want to be competitive week in, week out, and we felt therefore a change of head coach was the right step to take,” Kellock added.
“It is never pleasant to have to make changes to our team, but we needed to act. I’ve enjoyed working closely with Danny and know he has given a huge amount to Glasgow over the past two seasons and for that I’d like to thank him and wish him well.”
Wilson took charge of Glasgow at the beginning of the 2020-21 season during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a disrupted and difficult first campaign, the Welshman led Warriors to a respectable fourth-place finish, and this season started positively with Glasgow again competing towards the top end of the table.
However, a poor second half of the campaign and a run of just two wins away from home all season culminated in an eighth-place finish and a thumping at the hands of Leinster in their quarter-final.
Their slide in form also cost them a place in next season’s Champions Cup as rivals Edinburgh sealed the final spot at their expense.
“I am proud that we finished the season in the top eight and qualified for a quarter-final, and like everyone I am extremely disappointed with the result at the weekend,” Wilson said.
“I’d like to thank the players and staff at Glasgow Warriors for all their hard work and commitment over the two seasons I was with the club.”
Before being appointed Glasgow coach, Wilson had worked as Scotland‘s forwards coach having also led Cardiff Blues in his native Wales.
