Ulster Rugby: Stephen Ferris believes things at province are 'up in the air' after Jonny Petrie departure

Ulster were knocked out of the Champions Cup in January and are 7th in the URC

Ulster legend Stephen Ferris believes supporters are craving answers amid great upheaval at the province.

Head coach Dan McFarland left his post in February, replaced on an interim basis by Richie Murphy.

Chief executive Jonny Petrie then departed on Monday with Hugh McCaughey now filling his role.

"What fans have been crying out for is to have a lot more clarity on what direction Ulster are going to go in," said Ferris.

He added: "There's so many questions around sponsorships, head coaches coming and going, now the CEO Jonny Petrie leaving his post two or three weeks after saying he was fully committed to seeing this project through.

"I think fans are at a point of 'what's going on here?' and I think Hugh McCaughey will be able to explain that better than most.

"He has a serious job on his hands. Is he the guy to take Ulster forward as CEO? I think the next couple of months might decide that."

Ferris does think that McCaughey has the character to make a success of the role.

"I believe that Hugh McCaughey will take this challenge head on," he added. He's not going to be somebody who sits in the back and delegates, sees the time out, and puts another few markers on the CV. Hugh McCaughey will give this 100%.

"He's a well-respected guy, he's a good fella, he's a rugby man and he'll get the backing of everyone else in the organisation. Hopefully the players that don't know him, will get to know him and they'll back him also."

'Ulster will start afresh'

On the field, with Ulster having been knocked out of the Champions Cup in January and presently sitting seventh in the United Rugby Championship, Ferris believes it is high time for a reset.

"There's so many things that are currently up in the air. Add in getting rid of your head coach, getting rid of your CEO and trimming your squad massively, it's pretty hard stuff they've done recently," he said.

"I personally feel it's a good thing, that it should have been done a few years ago, and it's only starting to catch up with us.

"People talk about deadwood, there's deadwood in every organisation, every club that there is but it's being able to identify that and sometimes it takes a bit of time.

"I think Ulster now will start afresh, open a new chapter, and hopefully the future will be bright because they've a lot of good talent, a lot of young guys who are champing at the bit, and they have to get back to enjoying their rugby."

Ulster play the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.