If JK desires Blues success, he must go

Stepping down from the Blues would be the honourable thing for coach John Kirwan to do. Photo / Getty Images

Judge me after three years, Blues coach Sir John Kirwan suggested. That verdict is straightforward. However, it becomes clouded when you factor in a host of peripheral issues away from Kirwan's core job of selecting and coaching.

Let's appeal to Kirwan's loyalty and his repeated wishes for Blues success.

A 33 per cent winning ratio and no chance of making the Super Rugby playoffs for a third straight year delivers that answer. Coaches are marked by results, which display trends over time.

For Kirwan that is 14 wins from 42 games. It's time for the Blues to find his successor for the 2016 season.

That poses many problems and silence from the Blues bunker suggests they are struggling with a solution.

The problem is JK is an Auckland and All Black rugby icon, a knight, an all-round good bloke whose philanthropic work in sport and the field of mental health creates a great deal of admiration. He's generous, welcoming and good company.

Irrelevant. His job description is to select and coach the Blues to success and that has not happened.

Take his wing choices this year, a position he should have some handle on.

Melani Nanai has become a regular after being in the wider training group, while Ben Lam and Tevita Li have made few appearances and former All Black Frank Halai has been a slow burn.

This is Kirwan's second chance with the Blues after work as the manager in 2000, then as assistant coach the year after. He went offshore and gathered more experience on the international stage with Italy and Japan and returned to beat Pat Lam, Kieran Crowley and Wayne Pivac for the job.

He wanted immediate success but warned that progress would take some time. The Blues finished 10th in successive campaigns and Kirwan proclaimed fans would get more bang for their buck this year.

"It's my third year and we'll be expecting to make the top six. There's no qualms about that."

The Blues will do well to match the 10th-place finishes from their previous two campaigns.

Professional rugby is a results-driven industry and the board and their chief executive, Michael Redman, should be recruiting someone to replace Kirwan as we speak. If that's not happening Blues supporters should be posing questions.

One contention is that Kirwan's value to the Blues would be enhanced if he had more time and worked alongside another senior coach. That idea was used in 2013-14 with Kirwan getting help from Sir Graham Henry and Mick Byrne without success.

Some coaches blow the time theory to bits.

The Chiefs found immediate success with Dave Rennie and the Hurricanes are purring along strongly with first-season coach Chris Boyd.

This is not like the All Blacks' coaching standoff at the end of 2007. That panel was retained after one disastrous World Cup quarter-final defeat rather than the string of misfires the Blues are enduring.

Kirwan's greatest gift to the Blues would be to urge them to find his replacement without him manoeuvring into another coaching role like director of rugby.

Kirwan's appeal is widespread and might have a place in the marketing/promotions arm of the Blues, where his ability to interact with the business community and sponsors could boost the franchise's move to Alexandra Park headquarters.