TROUBLE-shooter Michael Cheika has told Leicester fans he is not just a quick fix merchant and is hoping to be in it for the long haul in the Midlands.
The Australian was appointed as Tigers boss on a one-season deal in the summer when the shock departure of Dan McKellar was announced.
The Leicester head-hunters, led by CEO Andrea Pinchen, had to act swiftly and Cheika, a renowned fire-fighter, and a previous target for the club, was in position for the first day of pre-season in July.
The Midlanders had a torrid time last season when, weakened by World Cup call-ups, they finished eighth in the Premiership, scraping into this season's Champions Cup.
Cheika, right, who had been approached previously by Leicester, is convinced he has the knowhow to turn things around at Welford Road after coaching for 25 years all over the world including stints with the Waratahs, Leinster, Australia and Argentina. The 57-year-old is still living in a Leicester hotel, with his family back in Australia, but is eyeing a more permanent shift in the Premiership.
“I would like to think that is going to be a longstanding thing once I can get personal things worked out,” said Cheika. “I feel like we are already feeling more stable around what is important and what we need to get done now and what we can prioritise.”
“I've been used to having big turnarounds. That's been my speciality. I'm working hard on this group to improve around mentality and habits because I definitely believe the quality of player is there.
“It all happened relatively quickly. I've been living in Paris for the last few years and then pretty much made the decision to go back to Australia. I've had some contact with Leicester before way back over my time in different periods and the timing hasn't worked out.
“I probably wasn't aiming to come into the Premiership with what I was thinking about doing moving forward, but when a club like Leicester makes that approach and that opportunity fits you at the right time, it's almost impossible not to take it.
“The way it worked out, the nature and speed of it, how it all happened, suited me at that time. I jumped straight into training not long after I got here and I'm happy with how that's going on so far.”
And Pinchen is hoping for a period of calm after landing the big fish Tigers were after, with Cheika being the seventh head coach since Richard Cockerill was sacked in 2017.
She said: “Michael has signed for one year but with options, but it was all done in four days as we needed a coach in. He was the only candidate for us. and we went for him.
“It is fair to say a lot happened and it was fortunate the relationship was there with Michael, and we were able to make it happen pretty quickly. We knew who we wanted.
“I am looking for stability, so we don't have to do this every year. It is key we come out and do really well this season and that continues. Finishing eighth is not good enough, it is not what season ticket holders come to see and we have got bigger expectations than that.”
Cheika spoke about the traditions of Leicester with their history of having hard-nosed forwards and he should have both fit-again Ollie Chessum and George Martin at his disposal. Martin took another leap in his international development on England's summer tour to Japan and New Zealand, which Chessum missed through injury, and Cheika is relishing the prospect of working with the lock.
Cheika added: “He is a pretty handy player who is just coming through and has a way to go before he meets his full potential. But he is having a serious impact at international level which is not easy to do because you are playing against the best of the best.
“He looks like a player who is well organised, very professional and can balance that out with a bit of old school – tough and hard footy. That is a skill that is very advantageous to have. From having coached against him at international level he is definitely a player to watch.”
