Sharks coach falls on his sword

Brad Macleod-Henderson has become the first casualty as the Sharks look to revamp their coaching structures.

Macleod-Henderson, an assistant to Gary Gold during the Super Rugby season, has resigned from the Sharks.

As was reported by rugby365 last week, Gold will move upstairs as Director of Rugby and will no longer be involved in any on-field coaching.

Macleod-Henderson has been involved with the Sharks since 2012 – initially with the Under-21 team, before joining the senior side in July 2013.

He was assistant coach in the last two Super Rugby campaigns – looking after the forwards and breakdown, while he has head coach of the Currie Cup teams.

"We had offered Brad a role within our new structures, but he felt that it was time to move on," the Sharks said in a terse statement.

"After playing for the Sharks in the late 1990 and early 2000, he joined us on the back of a six-year investment banking career and with a Honours in Economics and his MBA nearly completed.

"We take this opportunity to wish him and his family the very best moving forward."

Gold also confirmed there will be changes in coaching set-up.

"It is not going to be clear out or clean slate," he said, adding: "We looking at our junior structures and put lot of energy into Vodacom Cup.

"I will be more of a Director of Rugby than hands-on coach.

"I will Look at our structures, which are not ideal, and look for expertise.

"There will go a lot of energy into junior structures and recruitment, as well as into working with the coaches and make sure all the sharks teams are playing the same rugby – event the schools and universities.

"I don't see me as being hands-on coach.

"It just happened that when I came in the Sharks needed a coach.

"There certainly is not going to be radical changes, but there will be tweaking.

"We need solid structures for a few years now, we need to calm things down and have continuity going forward."

Gold said they have not advertised for the position of head coach.  

"However, we have a few candidates."

@rugby365com