James Lowes to step up at Yorkshire Carnegie as Bryan Redpath figures it is time for a change

The Championship club announced yesterday that the 45-year-old will stand aside at the end of this campaign with former chief James Lowes resuming control of the side for 2017-18.

Former Gloucester and Sale coach Redpath was appointed in March 2015, but his contract was due to expire in the summer and no fresh terms were forthcoming.

The ex-Scotland captain has, instead, accepted a position with AFEX, a global payment and risk management solutions specialist.

Redpath led Carnegie to the Championship promotion play-offs last season, but they lost in the semi-finals to Doncaster Knights.

They also reached the British & Irish Cup Final only to fall at home to London Welsh.

They are currently chasing promotion again, however, and are second in the table after winning 12 of their 13 games so far.

Admittedly, leaders London Irish remain firm favourites to win an immediate return to the Premiership and pressure is on Carnegie as the Rugby Football Union are expected to confirm soon that the Championship will return to a ‘first past the post’ promotion format in 2017-18, ending eight years of play-offs to decide who goes up.

Carnegie, who have been striving to return to the top-flight since relegation in 2011, know those conditions would undoubtedly favour whoever comes down this summer with Worcester Warriors currently bottom after a recent surge in form from last season’s Championship winners Bristol.

Former Leeds Rhinos and England assistant Lowes, is the club’s attack coach, but was originally head coach in 2013-14 before quitting to return to rugby league with Bradford Bulls.

Redpath told The Yorkshire Post: “Yorkshire had not made their mind up about which way they wanted to go next year and this option came up. What people have to understand is everything is potentially changing next season with promotion and the club has to decide what kind of budget they want to operate with.

“I was paid well and ultimately this is a big year to try and get us up into the Premiership.

“But I was in a situation where with six months before my contract was up, I needed to know what I was going to do with a family to think about. Ultimately I made the choice myself. I’ve known Stuart Holmes and Tony Rea (from AFEX) quite a long time and we’d spoken about this.

“It will be exciting, but it’s been a massive decision 29 years on after starting my career.

“Since I was 17, I’ve only ever known I wanted to play international rugby and I did that, captaining Scotland and playing in three World Cups. It was questioned whether I could play at the highest level, but I did. When I retired in 2005 my next aim was to try and coach Scotland, too.

“I haven’t achieved that, but I’m proud of what I have done in my rugby career and soon it will be time for something different.

“But, first, every dog has its day; hopefully I’ll have mine in the next four or five months and I can finish my time in the game on a real high with Carnegie.”

It will be ironic if Redpath is, indeed, the coach who finally gets them up – then departs.

The return of Lowes will be a sixth appointment inside as many years since Diccon Edwards replaced Neil Back in 2011.

Lowes initially arrived from Leeds Rhinos to succeed Edwards in 2013 and was hailed a success for the brand of football adopted.

In an ill-fated appointment, Gary Mercer was next in, but he lasted just three months before being sacked and replacement Tommy McGee did not see out the 2014-15 campaign either.

Redpath has certainly improved standards significantly since that dismal campaign, but it remains to be seen whether the board had enough belief in him to take them to a higher level still.

He added: “It was hard telling the players (yesterday morning); it was an emotional thing.

“But then that was done and dusted and we moved on.

“I’ve a lot of time for Jimmy Lowes, (forwards coach) Steve Boden and (player welfare) Chris Gibson who will all be here next season and I wish them all well while looking forward to finishing off with them now.”

Lowes has been back at Headingley since quitting Bradford for “personal reasons” in April before their financial implosion.

Carnegie executive president Sir Ian McGeechan said: “Bryan will leave the club this summer stronger than when he arrived.

“He remains committed to the club for the remainder of the season and I know, from speaking to him, that he has a passion to finish off the job he started two years ago.

“From next season, James Lowes will become head coach again, which will give us a smooth transition into 2017-18 and allow us to build on the achievements of the last two years.”