The official statement said Andy Robinson ”has decided to step down” but there is little question the Scotland rugby head coach was fired in the wake of Saturday’s humiliation against Tonga.
Robinson didn’t appear in the mood for resigning on Saturday night after unleashing a reportedly furious tirade on the Scotland team in the post-match dressing room in the wake of the 21-15 defeat to the Islanders at Pittodrie in Aberdeen.
He spoke of his anger and ”consequences” arising out of what might have been Scotland’s biggest rugby humiliation, and referred to a planned meeting with SRU chief executive Mark Dodson at Murrayfield in the week. However, by 11am on Sunday the 48-year-old, head coach since replacing Frank Hadden in June 2009, was out.
He said: ”It’s been a privilege to be the head coach of Scotland and I’d like to thank the fans, players, coaches and staff for all their support over the years.
”I believe I have left the team in a better position than when I took over and have great confidence in the players and the coaches for the future.
”I am very disappointed by our recent results but I have belief in the players to develop into a winning team.”
Dodson’s decision was a tough one given that Robinson still has three years to go on his current contract up until the Rugby World Cup finals of 2015.
But the chief executive appears to have agreed with the common belief that the Tonga performance and defeat, meaning Scotland finished a calendar year without a home win for the first time in modern history, was not survivable for the Englishman.
Dodson said: ”Following the sequence of recent results during the EMC Autumn Tests a change in head coach is required to take the team forward and build towards the Rugby World Cup in 2015.See further coverage of Scotland’s performance in Monday’s Courier”I have passed on to Andy Scottish Rugby’s thanks for his hard work and commitment during his term as national coach.
”Andy has overseen some fine results as Scotland head coach since he was appointed in June 2009 but the recent defeats have been very disappointing.
”Andy is an outstanding leader and a fine coach and we wish him well.”
The recruitment process to replace Robinson would begin immediately, said the SRU, with Robinson’s assistant Scott Johnson, in the job for just six months, the clear frontrunner as at least an interim appointment for the 2013 Six Nations.
Robinson was a former head coach of England who was appointed Hadden’s successor after a successful spell with the Edinburgh pro team.
With Scotland Robinson had his successes, notably home and away wins against Australia, a win over South Africa, and further away wins in Argentina and Ireland.
However, last season the team failed to qualify for the last eight of the World Cup for the first time and suffered a whitewash in the Six Nations, and the Tonga debacle was clearly the final straw.