KEY POINTS:
Former Wellington NPC coach Chris Boyd has walked away from the head coach's job with the Bay of Plenty Steamers, clearing the way for former All Black Kevin Schuler to take over.
A week ago Boyd looked set to replace Andre Bell as coach of the Steamers. Boyd
all but had the job and was working through the contract details - something that tripped up Bell, who had been offered another two years as coach.
But Boyd has walked away after failing to agree to financial terms with the Bay of Plenty Union, uncertain whether he wanted to uproot his family, including four teenage children, from their Wellington home to move north.
The Bay union had been expected to confirm Schuler - Bell's assistant last year - as head coach but hit another snag, with Schuler who was interviewed a week ago initially saying he was too late to challenge for the head coaching job, only wanting the job part- time.
With the Air NZ Cup just five months away, Bay of Plenty have failed to agree terms with three prospective candidates - Bell, Blues assistant Josef Schmidt and Boyd.
Schuler's status is now unclear. Former Bay of Plenty halfback Milton Haig, who was the early favourite last month after a favourable interview, is still keen but has heard nothing in the past two weeks.
Asked whether he had withdrawn from the race or been dumped by Bay of Plenty as their preferred option, Boyd seemed uncertain.
"You'd need to talk to Paul Abbot [Bay rugby's chief executive] about it [whether I'm still in the running]. Ask Paul what line he wants to take, whatever he says I'll go along with. It's no skin off my nose."
Boyd, who spent three years as assistant coach of the Wellington Lions and is still on their payroll, heard about the Steamers job late through a third party, unaware it had been advertised.
He missed out on the Hawke's Bay Magpies head coaching job last month to former Wairarapa Bush coach Peter Russell.
It is understood the money being offered by Bay of Plenty was less than Boyd was getting as assistant coach of Wellington.
"That was a sticking point but we were going through a process of getting over that financial hurdle.
"The value of the contract [being offered] was a determining factor but the interesting thing was a week ago I was 100 per cent right [for the Steamers], and between then and a board meeting this week I'm suddenly not in the frame.
"Somewhere between when Herb came back [from Japan], when Bay of Plenty was talking quite strongly to me, and now, Herb's stocks went up and mine went way down."
Boyd had no qualms with the process that was followed, although he was disappointed at a lack of confidentiality.
"It's a very public way of doing business."
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES