Gloucester delay review findings

Walkinshaw is overseas but has said there will be "changes in many areas"

Gloucester are not expected to unveil the findings of their end-of-season review until the beginning of June.

Chairman Tom Walkinshaw set up a review after a poor campaign culminated with sixth spot in the Guinness Premiership.

It is eight years since Gloucester have finished lower in the table and they were also humbled 50-12 by Cardiff Blues in the EDF Energy Cup final.

The club has denied speculation that Bryan Redpath will be promoted from within to replace head coach Dean Ryan.

Such a change could result in 42-year-old Ryan, who has three years of his present contract remaining, being promoted to a director of rugby role.

But Gloucester legend and former England international Mike Teague cannot see why Ryan, who is at his happiest in a coaching role, would want to remain at Kingsholm.

He told BBC Sport: "From Dean's point of view would you really want to go to a party you're not invited to?

"Can you imagine if there's no success next year from his point of view."

Ryan arrived as head coach in 2002 under director of rugby Nigel Melville but has won only the Powergen Cup and the European Challenge Cup in that time and has endured a number of near misses, most significantly in the Guinness Premiership.

The club finished top of the table in 2006/07 and 2007/08 only to lose in the play-offs.

And Walkinshaw, who said the present malaise required "serious surgery", has identified the play-off semi-final defeat by Leicester at the end of the 2007/08 season as a turning point.

606: DEBATE

What would you like to see happen and if there are to be new faces who would you want involved?

Charlie Henderson - BBC Sport

Teague believes the home defeat to Worcester was the final nail in the coffin for the present regime.

"I'm a firm believer that within a club system a coach only has three or four years," added Teague.

"As with previous coaches like Richard Hill, Philippe Saint-Andre and Nigel Melville, Dean brings certain aspects to the table.

"They all bring something to the party and Dean has strengthened the squad and has been very successful. But this year has not been one of those occasions.

"There are far more positives than negatives and I think if you look at things in terms of football Gloucester finished in the top end of the league and they weren't floundering down at the bottom.

"And also in the players that Dean's amassed there are some very good players there.

"But from Tom's point of view the money has been there and the support has been there.

"They played some good rugby at times, but the wheels fell off in the last few games.

I'm very disturbed to see young home-grown players leaving because I think that is what has been key to Gloucester's success in the past

Mike Teague

"The cup final was embarrassing, but Worcester was a debacle."

Gloucester's Twickenham humiliation was the first time they had conceded 50 points in a match in seven years.

And their tame conclusion to the campaign when they lost to Northampton, Cardiff Blues, Worcester and Wasps was the first time they had lost four games in a row since early 2005.

As well as the downturn in results, Teague is also concerned by the club's summer recruitment drive which has seen an overhaul of the back division with Nicky Robinson, Tom Voyce, Seru Rabeni and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu come in, while the likes of Ryan Lamb and Anthony Allen have been shown the door.

"I'm very disturbed to see young home-grown players leaving because I think that is what has been key to Gloucester's success in the past," said Teague.

"It's true of Leicester as well. There's a nucleus of Leicester boys in the side which they've added to to strengthen, but there's a core there.

"Whether that's an old-school view I don't know, but you have to make people understand about the history of the club.

"That's getting more difficult as we move into a new era of professionalism where it's all about success.

"Gloucester has a huge passion and history and it remains whether Tom wants to acknowledge that past.

"Do you want to keep pace with having some of the local players who come through the wonderful system at Hartpury College where they're pushing players through, or do you want to change the ethos of the club?

"When Gloucester lose that they become like any other club. That is what makes them unique."