Rob Harley hopes Glasgow can give Gregor Towsend a fitting tribute

Glasgow Warriors lock Rob Harley paid tribute to head coach Gregor Townsend, who is set to leave the club at the end of the ongoing Pro 12 season.

Townsend, who joined the club in 2012, will take over from Vern Cotter as the new head coach of Scotland in June 2017. During his three-year stint, Glasgow had made tremendous progress and went on to become the first Scotland side to win the Pro 12 title during the 2014/15 season.

However, Glasgow have never managed to reach the knock-out stage of the European competition - something that will be missed in Townsend's rich achievements.

Harley, who has played for Scotland in 12 Tests since making his debut for the national team in 2012, insisted that Townsend's contribution is massive to the rise of Glasgow Warriors irrespective of the result in the upcoming European Champions Cup.

"It would be great to have Gregor get that accolade of being the first coach to lead us into the knock-out rounds but it's something we have to go out and prove on the pitch," he said.

"It's pretty clear he's been of massive benefit to Glasgow just looking at what he's built the club into.

"I don't think anything can take away from that. But it would be nice to have one extra honour against his name at this club."

In the previous season, Glasgow was very close in qualifying to the knock-out stage, but Harry Mallinder's last minute try for Northampton Saints ended their hopes. Despite, failing to go past the first round on previous occasions, Harley reckons there will not be any additional pressure on the team.

"Our goals remain the same. We want to win the league and we've been knocking at the door of the knock-out stages for Europe and as a squad we want to take that next step and be better than we have been in years past.

"Regardless of what is happening with the coaches, that remains the squad goal which we are working towards."