Gary Gold Leaves Bath - Who Will be Next?

Bath Rugby Club have announced that director of rugby Gary Gold has left the club with immediate effect due to a “restructure in the rugby department”.

The 46-year-old South African took over at the Rec in May 2012, replacing Sir Ian McGeechan.

Bath finished seventh in the table last term and are now sitting in third, six points behind leaders Saracens.

The abrupt exit from the Rec seems even stranger as Bath are currently enjoying a nine-game winning streak in the Aviva Premiership.

Furthermore, the West Country club are also top of their Amlin Challenge Cup pool with three wins out of three, and are leading their LV= Cup pool with two wins from their opening two matches.

A statement on the club website read: "Bath Rugby can today confirm that Gary Gold has left the Club with immediate effect," read a statement released by the Premiership outfit.

"The decision was taken following a re-structure in the rugby department and with the best interests of both Gary and the Club in mind.

"No further comment will be made until it is appropriate."

Gold first gained Premiership experience during his three-year stint as a coach with London Irish.

Following on from a period back in South Africa, working with Western Province and then the national side, he returned to England for a six-month spell as director of rugby at Newcastle Falcons in January 2012.

Later on in the same year Gold was initially named as Bath head coach, alongside ex England and Lions defence Coach Mike Ford; with London Irish pairing of Neal Hatley and Toby Booth appointed as forwards coaches.

However, after a disappointing 2012/13 season, the setup was then restructured this summer, with Ford moving to head coach and Gold to director of rugby.

Following on from the sides most recent victory – a 55-8 drubbing of Mogliano on Saturday – Gold left the club on Monday with immediate effect.

It is understood the club are on the lookout for an attack/skills coach to work with head coach Mike Ford and first-team coaches Toby Booth and Neil Hatley.

One of the candidates is the England rugby league coach Steve McNamara, who has visited Bath recently and knows Ford well from their time in league.

McNamara's contract as England boss expired after their semi-final exit at the recent World Cup and he is set to make a decision about his future in the next few days.

The 42 year-old is also understood to be weighing up an offer from Sydney Roosters in the NRL in Australia.

McNamara, who won four Great Britain caps as a player, represented Hull, Bradford, Wakefield Trinity and Huddersfield before retiring in 2003.

His coaching career began at Bradford and after assistant roles with Great Britain and England, he was promoted to England head coach in 2010.

McNamara would follow in the footsteps of current code-convert Kyle Eastmond, who joined Bath from St. Helens rugby league in 2011.