Rotherham Titans want Alex Codling after coach Andre Bester walks out
Bester resigned from his post on Thursday after a breakdown in communications with club directors, Martin Jenkinson and Nick Cragg, leaving defence coach and centre Lee Blackett in charge for yesterday’s derby clash against Doncaster.
The Rugby Paper understands Rotherham want to make a permanent appointment by the end of the week, and former England star Codling, a member of the ‘one cap’ club, is believed to be their first-choice candidate.
Peter Drewett, another coach with Championship experience from his time at Exeter and Plymouth, is also on a six candidate shortlist.
Codling was first approached by the Titans before Bester returned to Clifton Lane for a second spell.
But the 39-year-old opted to stay at Trinity School, Croydon, where he has been head of sport for the past six years.
If offered the chance to coach Rotherham again Codling admits he would be faced with a difficult decision.
“Nick and Martin have spoken to me about the possibility; they are two really good guys who have spoken to me regularly since I was offered the job three years ago,” he told TRP.
“Then it just wasn’t the right move for me. As things stand now I’m still fully focused on my school job and on helping out at Rosslyn Park (in National One). But my passion for coaching certainly hasn’t changed; if anything it has got even stronger.”
Codling has coached at six clubs in the seven years since he first cut his teeth in Wales with struggling Ebbw Vale. He transformed Vale’s fortunes almost overnight, before enjoying similar success on his return to England with Barking. The Essex outfit missed out on promotion to the Championship only on the final day of the 2010-11 season after a last-gasp defeat by London Scottish – his last club until September this year.
He added: “If I did go full-time it would have to be the right opportunity. Rotherham are a club with a huge tradition. They are very passionate about their rugby in that part of the world.”
The hugely talented Bester is pursuing interest from two UK-based clubs.
Frustrated at the club’s lack of progress in securing Premiership-standard facilities and their inability to retain his best players, the South African had made his mind up in the summer that this season would be his last at Clifton Lane.
This week’s disciplinary hearing which was curtailed by Bester’s resignation – and interest from elsewhere – served only to speed up the process.
In a statement released to TRP, Bester said: “I am ready for a new challenge in my career and am looking forward to hopefully working in a set-up where professionalism is at the centre of the culture.”
Bester went on to pay tribute to the club’s supporters, captain Garry Law and assistant coaches, Lee Blackett and Mike Whitehead, and Dr Chris Myers, “a cornerstone of this team effort for more than 20 years”.
JON NEWCOMBE
