John Kirwan has described Tana Umaga as a "fantastic" candidate for his former head coach's role at the Blues and has promised to help his transition into the job should he decide to take it.
Kirwan this morning announced he was stepping away from the role he has held for three years.
It follows a woeful period for the Blues in terms of results - this past season has been the worst in the franchise's history, with only three victories. Kirwan called the season a "perfect storm", adding he would take time out with his family before deciding his future. He hinted that that was unlikely to include coaching.
Counties coach Umaga is tipped to be Kirwan's successor, although Blues chief executive Michael Redman this morning declined to comment on that, saying it would be discussed at a Blues board meeting next week.
It is understood the franchise desperately want Umaga and approached him before he left to help coach the New Zealand Under-20s at the World Championship in Italy.
And should he accept the offer, he will find an ally in Kirwan.
"I think Tana is an outstanding young man," Kirwan said. "He has a similar pathway to me - he is a guy who I think would be one of the candidates who would be fantastic for here. He is from the wider region, he is a good man, but ... it is up to the board to make the right decision going forward.
"What I do know is that the person who comes on board will find a club in better shape than what I did and I think that's important. As a colleague of the next person who comes in I am totally available to support [that person] and give any intellectual property... so whoever that might be they can just pick up the phone and I'll be there."
Kirwan's decision brings to an end a coaching saga at the Blues which has gone on since April. That's when he offered his re-appointment plan to the board which included Tabai Matson as his assistant.
Once Matson declined to leave the Crusaders, Kirwan was isolated, although he still had supporters on a board which was split down the middle.