Booth hopes for Ospreys blessing on future offers

Toby Booth has previously coached Bath, Harlequins and London Irish

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth says he hopes the organisation will allow him to look at potential job opportunities this season.

Booth will leave the Ospreys at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, with Mark Jones stepping up as head coach for next season and Justin Tipuric taking on the defence coach role for 2025-26.

Booth's current Ospreys contract finishes next summer and he remains committed to finishing his fifth season in charge.

However, he has no official new role lined up and when asked whether he hopes Ospreys bosses would give him their blessing to look at other roles and potentially leave during the season, Booth replied: "Yes, I think so.

"The fact we have got the succession plan in place probably means it is more palatable.

"I am sure they would entertain it because it's a respect thing and I have done a good job for them."

Timing was right

Booth insists while he remains there is no dispute about who is in charge this season and the squad understand the hierarchy.

"We team coach a lot and involve everybody in decisions we make and collaborate a lot," Booth told Scrum V.

"It's pretty much business as usual. The team will get selected by us all and I have the final say.

"With the style of play, it is still my team for one more season and if that changes people will find out about it.

"There is probably only one difference that will come down the line, which will be future recruitment because after this season I am not in charge of people's long-term future."

Booth says the timing of his departure was right for all parties.

"You have to make sure you are in a better place than you found it," said Booth.

"Coaches can overstay their welcome also and keeping a freshness in what you do is important.

"Previously in other jobs I have probably stayed around a little bit too long and while the momentum is right, I feel it is important we can do what is right for both parties.

"Almost with the success of the group, I feel comfortable with cutting the parental strings.

"They are ready to carry on with the new format and succession plan in place I was involved in."

See the full Toby Booth interview during Scrum V Live - Cardiff v Zebre, BBC Two Wales, the sport website and app from 19:15 BST on Friday, 20 September.