The Old Golds will make their head coaching role contestable for next season.
The North Otago union had elected to advertise for a head coach in a bid to ensure transparency and, after a robust process, get the best person for the job, chief executive Colin Jackson said yesterday.
"We think it’s important for the role to be contestable and for the process to be transparent," Jackson said.
"It’s not just about rolling the position over every year."
Jackson expected plenty of interest in the role, as there were limited opportunities at Heartland Championship level.
Incumbent coach Jason Forrest, who is also employed by the North Otago union as a rugby development manager, has not yet declared if he will seek a sixth season in the head coaching position.
He said he wanted to take some time with his family to assess his coaching future, and would "make a decision after taking a breath".
Forrest was assisted by North Otago rugby great Ralph Darling this season and last, and also had former players Luke Herden and Joe Mamea with him this year.
Forrest experienced immediate success when he took the top job in 2019, charging to Meads Cup glory with one of the great Old Golds teams.
Sustained success has been elusive since that season, however.
After blooding several young players in the Covid-wrecked 2020 season that did not feature a structured competition, North Otago finished fourth in 2021. That is usually good enough for a Meads Cup spot but, with Covid again having a say, it meant a straight Lochore Cup final, and the Old Golds were beaten by Whanganui.
Defeats in Lochore Cup semifinals in both 2022 and 2023 left a slightly sour taste in the mouth, especially as old enemy South Canterbury charged to three consecutive Meads Cups with unbeaten records.
The Old Golds have not been able to find the right formula on the park, but still got three players named in the New Zealand Heartland XV and have built some depth, evidenced by the development squad winning the Hanan Cup for the first time since 2006.
A comprehensive review of the season had thrown up a couple of themes, Jackson said.
"We were happy with the development of a lot of the players.
"But everybody, I think, was bitterly disappointed we couldn’t take the positive start we had through to the end of the season."
