Leicester chairman Peter Tom has revealed head coach Pat Howard will play a part in choosing his successor after the Australian announced he will leave his post at the end of this season. Listen to our interviews on Pat Howard leaving...Howard, who has a family pharmacy business in Australia, had initially intended to quit last term before agreeing a new deal for the current campaign. | "There are family and business reasons for leaving, but you come to your time. I've had a great time in Leicester." | | Pat Howard, Leicester Tigers head coach |
But he informed BBC Leicester on 28 December that, "for family and business reasons, this will be my last year" and he will return Down Under in the summer. Tom on the matterTom said: "We were delighted last year when Pat agreed to stay for another year, but we always knew it was his intention to return home at the end of this season. "Pat has done a fantastic job for the club, initially as a player and then as backs coach and head coach. He has brought about a number of changes which have enabled us to move forward and Tigers are now in a very strong position."  | | Tigers Forwards Coach Richard Cockerill |
Leicester Tigers forwards coach Richard Cockerill has reportedly ruled himself out of the running to succeed Pat Howard as the club's head coach. Cockerill has spent a season and a half as Howard's number two, but believes a more experienced man should take over. Howard at Welford RoadHoward is in his second season as head coach at Welford Road, after rejoining the club as backs coach under John Wells in 2004. Howard succeeded Wells when he left to join the RFU. The ex-Wallaby had earlier performed with distinction as a player for Leicester over three seasons, culminating in the club's first Heineken Cup Final win over Stade Francais in 2001. | 
