Cardiff Blues are looking for a new head coach for next season after confirming Danny Wilson is to leave at the end of the current campaign.
The region informed their playing squad on Tuesday of Wilson’s decision not to take his spell at the Arms Park into a fourth season.
That move was underlined with a statement on Wednesday morning, which insisted that the former Scarlets forwards coach would carry on at the helm for the remainder of the campaign.
Wilson was known to have been unimpressed by the Blues’ decision to offload South Africa forward Franco van der Merwe to London Irish on the eve of this season as a cost-cutting measure.
He is also ambitious and keen to be involved with one of Europe’s major teams that competes in the European Champions Cup.
Wilson recently held meetings over budgets for next season and has opted to move on rather than be part of the current financial squeeze being applied by the board.
His loss, and the timing of the announcement, will be a blow to the Blues who have lost three of their four Guinness Pro14 matches so far this season and who finished seventh in the last campaign, 16 points behind the play-off positions.
Wilson, who took over from Mark Hammett at the Blues in 2015, was recently linked with a role as forwards coach at Northampton.
“It is disappointing that Danny has decided not to take up the offer of a new contract and will not be part of our strategy moving forward,” said Cardiff Blues chief executive Richard Holland.
“We will begin the process of finding a successor immediately and we will consult key individuals to ensure we make the right appointment for Cardiff Blues.”
Wilson admits it was a tough decision to make but insists he remains committed to the cause for the remainder of his time at the Blues.
“This was obviously a very difficult decision to make and I am very grateful to Cardiff Blues for the opportunities they have given to me,” he said.
“I will be fully committed to Cardiff Blues for the remainder of my time here and am now solely focused on this weekend’s match with Munster.”
