Leicester boss Dean Richards fell foul of the "football mentality" creeping into rugby, according to former England lock Martin Bayfield. Bayfield believes the growing financial pressures on Zurich Premiership sides mean there is less room for patience.
Richards parted company with Leicester after seven years as director of rugby.
"He's been incredibly successful but it's almost as though we're starting to see the football mentality creep into rugby," Bayfield told BBC Sport.
"Immediate success, that's what they need.
"The money is vital to what is still a fledgling professional game, and you get the money by progressing to the big televised games.
 |  The team now is starting to look a little bit old |
"Some clubs paid the price by keeping on coaches and senior players and it didn't work out.
"It seemed to be working at Leicester. They had John Wells and Dean Richards, both incredibly senior, experienced players.
"And it worked a great deal, but things just started to slip."
Martin Johnson, who used to pack down with Bayfield in the England scrum, has been linked with the top job at Welford Road.
But Bayfield believes the main priority for the Tigers is to rediscover the flair which he believes has gone out of their back line.
"Part of that may have been a couple of seasons ago when Pat Howard, the Australian centre, left Leicester," said Bayfield.
"Whilst he was obviously a key player, he was also a key coach - certainly to their backs.
"I think they have missed him and it's put a lot of pressure on the coaching team to come up with new ideas and tactics as other teams around them get stronger.
"I think they have struggled to do that.
"They need a bit of flair, not just in the coaching but also with the players.
"The team now is starting to look a little bit old and there's a big gap between the experienced, senior players and the new guys coming through.
"You need to fill that middle ground."
MMIX
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