Cheika knows he will be judged on results

LEICESTER were once a byword for stability. Like Liverpool FC, they had a reputation for promoting from within and benefiting from a boot room that allowed players to transition into management-think Dean Richards, Richard Cockerill and Geordan Murphy.

It could be argued that last week's decision to part company with head coach Dan McKellar after one season in charge was more typical of the Tigers in the professional era than the pathway. he statement was released at a time when it would have minimum impact, late Saturday afternoon after England had beaten Japan and South Africa had overcome Wales at Twickenham. It was not going to generate a huge amount of traffic.

The unanswered question was why. Leicester had finished a disappointing eighth in the Premiership, retaining their place in the Champions Cup only after Gloucester lost to the Sharks in the Challenge Cup final. They were in contention for a play-off place with three rounds to go, but fell away as others kicked on.

McKellar, a former Australia assistant coach, was honest about where he thought the campaign had gone wrong and not absolving himself from blame. He pinpointed attack as one of the areas that needed improvement and Peter Hewat joined the management team one week before McKellar's departure.

The timing could hardly be worse, nine days before the start of pre-season. The search for McKellar's successor did not last long with former Australia and Argentina head coach Michael Cheika, who had stints with Leinster and Stade Francais, appointed last Thursday and starting work this week, suggesting talks had been going on for a while and that McKellar's exit was a mutual decision.

Another Australian? Bob Dwyer lasted less than two campaigns at the start of the professional era, despite reaching a Champions Cup final, after falling out with some players, Austin Healey in particular. He became known as Barb Dwyer for his willingness to say what was on his mind and was succeeded by club icon Richards.