Rugby: Pat Lam - I still have a job to do

The Blues announced today that Pat Lam's job as coach of the Blues will be advertised next week. Photo / Getty Images.

Situation vacant. The Blues are looking for a new coach to halt this season's horrors and rediscover the glories which have not been seen for a decade.

The search for the Blues' eighth coach officially began yesterday when the Blues revealed they would advertise the head role for 2013.

Lam will remain in the job until the end of the season and there are no plans to call up anyone to assist him through the rest of the Super 15.

While the announcement came with soothing public noises about Lam, the Blues' wretched record of one win and nine defeats this year means he will not survive an end-of-year review to retain his current role.

That is apparent to anyone who has followed the Blues' current misery and Lam's record, which is 24 wins, 29 defeats and one draw in his four campaigns.

However, unlikely as it seems, the 43-year-old could endure to be part of an extended technical coaching division the Blues are seeking next season. Lam refused to answer questions yesterday about whether he would apply to retain his job.

"I have a job to do this week and that is the most important thing," he said.

"My future is about doing a job here and I am contracted to finish this off. We know where we are at, we know we are working hard to get a win and continue to do the job.

"I have not changed my stance whether the job is going to be advertised or not. Currently I have a job until the end of the year and just get on and do that."

The Blues board and the New Zealand Rugby Union have been in regular discussions about the difficulties and have agreed to advertise for next season's head coach now rather than settle for the usual end-of-campaign inquiries.

In a joint statement they said that would allow them to "maximise the opportunity to test the market and recruit the best available head coach for the Blues' 2013 Super rugby season."

"The reality is, the results of the Blues to date this season have put considerable focus on the role and as those in the rugby industry know, this is the time coaches look to secure their coaching posts for next year and beyond," said Blues chairman, Gary Whetton.

"In order to ensure we have the best opportunity to garner interest from coaches both locally and abroad, this position needs to be advertised now."

The NZRU contracts coaches and assistants in consultation with each franchise and that will be done for the Blues by the end of June.

Lam said the Blues executive and board had to do what they thought was right for the side. He still had a job to do and would leave them to get on with their plans.

The issue had not been a distraction, his whole focus remained on getting a victory the Blues craved so badly.

"It is not a problem for me, I am excited by the opportunity of this round, so I am all good."

It did not change his job with the Blues and if his future lay elsewhere, then so be it - it might be "somewhere like Disneyland" as his excited 5-year-old commented.

Blues chief executive Andy Dalton said the decision to advertise the coaching job came because of the poorest Blues record since Super rugby began in 1996.

"It was felt the best way forward was to get the position out there for 2013 and to get the best coaching group together for 2013 that we can."

Dalton did not know of any NZRU restrictions about applicants and the Blues were determined to get the best coaching group they could muster for next season.

He and Whetton had discussed the future on Tuesday night with Lam and agreed on a strategy.

"I don't think he was surprised," Dalton said. "It was a tough call, I mean we are all hurting for him and he is a good man."

Whetton said that if Lam reapplied he would be assessed when a shortlist of coaching contenders was made about the end of June.

"This is the right thing for the Blues, for all of us to go forward."