Beattie claims nobody wants to coach Scotland

Former Scotland international John Beattie claims the only reason Frank Hadden is still Head Coach of Scotland is that nobody else wants the job.

Former Scotland international John Beattie claims the only reason Frank Hadden is still Head Coach of Scotland is that nobody else wants the job.

Following the World Cup Hadden was given a rolling contract that would be based upon regular reviews. However after a disappointing Six Nations, the win over England the only highlight, Hadden has been given the green light to continue.

However Sean Lineen, Glasgow's Head Coach, and Andy Robinson, Edinburgh's Director of Rugby, have been added to Hadden's coaching team for the summer tour to Argentina at the expense of George Graham and Alan Tait.

“It's unusual to see assistants go and a head coach survive,” Beattie told BBC Sport.

“But one of the problems must have been that the people who have been brought in don't really want to be Head Coach.”

Former England boss Robinson is nearing the end of his first season in charge at Edinburgh, while Lineen has been leading Glasgow for two years.

“I think Lineen and Robinson may feel it's too early for them,” added Beattie.

“The difficulty with being a Head Coach in Scotland is that it is not a long-term prospect.

“You are not in the job for ten years. Everyone knows that the career path is maybe for a year or two years.”

Under Hadden, Scotland reached the quarter-final stage at the World Cup but lost all but one of this year's Six Nations matches.

“I think Frank Hadden has brought some success to Scottish rugby,” said Beattie.

“He had a great first year. But his second year wasn't good.”

Forwards coach Graham and backs coach Tait have been jettisoned and Beattie is not too surprised.

“I think there was a little bit of conflict from the way they all worked,” he continued.

“It's high-level sport and if you don't succeed then somebody has to go. After all, there was a target set of winning forty per cent of matches.

“Hadden, Robinson and Lineen are the three most high-profile coaches we have and they all have different rugby philosophies.

“Argentina is going to be either the making of a new coaching set-up or one of them will go and the other two will get it. I think it's fascinating.”

Scotland, who last travelled to Argentina in 1994, will play two Tests against the Pumas in June.