Newcastle sack coach Bates despite winning relegation battle

Falcons take Premiership's tally to three in a week with Alan Tait expected to replace 'disappointed' Scot

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Rugby's version of musical chairs, played out to the strains of a death march, continued at its frantic end-of-season pace yesterday when Newcastle parted company with Steve Bates – the third Guinness Premiership head coach to lose his job, or at the very least a substantial chunk of it, in a little over a week. The former England scrum-half was relieved of his Kingston Park duties with immediate effect after an internal review of a campaign that left the Tynesiders at serious risk of relegation and miles off the pace for Heineken Cup qualification. He described himself as "disappointed".

Last week, Worcester gave the Grand Slam-winning Welsh coach Mike Ruddock the heave-ho, shortly before Sale appointed the much-travelled New Zealander Mike Brewer as their new head coach, shedding Jason Robinson in the process and giving Kingsley Jones, their director of rugby, a hearty shove in a sideways direction. This fall-out reinforces the Premiership's reputation for out-footballing football when it comes to sacking its top men. There have now been some 30 changes of regime in six seasons – and this in a 12-team league.

Alan Tait, the Scot who left the union game for a stint in rugby league before returning to play a significant part in the British and Irish Lions' victory over the Springboks in 1997, has been asked to take on Bates's role. "He will also be undertaking a review of the playing, coaching and support structure, and announcements relating to that review are expected shortly," said the chairman Dave Thompson, whose public farewell to Bates was just a little abrupt. "We would all like to express our thanks to Steve for his contribution during his time as director of rugby, and wish him every success in the future," he remarked, succinctly.

Newcastle, one of the weaker Premiership clubs off the field as well as on it, have been on a downward slope since winning the first Premiership title a dozen years ago. They have not finished higher than sixth since that triumphant campaign in 1998 and have made only two appearances at Heineken Cup level – a catalogue of failure that has cost them the services of home-developed players as good as Jonny Wilkinson, Toby Flood and Mathew Tait. They are still losing personnel now. Among those heading for the exit door over the next couple of weeks will be the All Black prop Carl Hayman, the try-scoring wing Tom Biggs and the highly rated young outside-half prospect Rob Miller.

Many Newcastle supporters want Tait – Alan, not Mathew – to be given the No 1 job on a full-time basis and confidently expect things to turn out this way. But Thompson, understandably concerned at his club's regular flirtations with relegation, has other options. He could, for example, go fishing for Dean Ryan, one of the men responsible for driving the team to the top of the Premiership in '98. Ryan, widely linked with the vacancy at Worcester, has not coached since leaving Gloucester last summer. "My name is being associated with every club that has a bad result," he said recently when asked about his future plans.

Bates, who has coached in Scotland and is well regarded as a rugby technician, could be heard sticking to his guns as he cleared his desk last night. "I'm proud of what has been achieved this season in a very competitive environment," he commented. It was not an unreasonable remark, given the financial pressures under which he was forced to operate, but Premiership chairmen rarely consider cash constraint to be an excuse for lack of success.

Worcester, who will be formally relegated to England's second-tier Championship later this month if either Bristol or Exeter win a forthcoming four-way play-off tournament also involving London Welsh and Bedford, have launched what they describe as a "worldwide" search for Ruddock's replacement and claim to have had a good deal of interest from all corners of the rugby landscape.

Along with Ryan, the name of John Brain has been mentioned, somewhat surprisingly given the ruthless way he was sacked by the Midlanders three years ago. Brain is currently on the Bristol staff and has been offered a contract extension.