Ospreys parties agreed on Booth exit date - Bradley

Lance Bradley took over as Ospreys chief executive in January 2024

Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley says all parties were in agreement about the decision that head coach Toby Booth will not continue in that role after the 2024-25 season.

Booth has been in charge since 2020 at the Swansea-based team and will complete a fifth campaign before departing next summer.

Former Wales wing Mark Jones will take over at the end of this season when he steps up from defence coach, a role Justin Tipuric will assume after he retires from playing.

Booth stated on Friday the decision and timing was right for him and the Ospreys squad. He reiterated that position on Saturday evening following the 14-10 pre-season win against Exeter.

When asked whether the changes were a mutual decision, Bradley replied: "It was all part of a plan and everybody involved in the process was part of those discussions.

"You heard Toby say he was pleased to have built up a coaching team he was happy with and so were we.

"We are all confident this is the best thing for the club going forward."

'Timing was right for everybody'

Talks of a new deal for Booth had floated since before Bradley joined the Ospreys in January 2024.

Booth was out of contract at the end of this season and Bradley had told the BBC in February he hoped the coach would stay within the organisation for a long time.

Now seven months on, Bradley says no new deal was offered when the Ospreys and their current head coach both agreed on Booth's departure date.

"We talked to Toby and other people involved in this decision about what the best way forward was," said Bradley.

"If those conversations had led to a point where we all agreed Toby would take us forward on the coaching side, then a deal would have been offered.

"In the end that was not the decision that we all came to, so a deal was not offered."

Bradley says Booth had played a part in the process with the coach himself insisting the timing of his departure was right and in line with his own wishes.

"Discussions are just that," said Bradley.

"You work out what's better, nothing was decided before discussions started but having involved everybody, this is what we all agreed was the best outcome."

Bradley added: "The conversations started before I joined the club and when I came in, I was part of them.

"We are looking at what we want to do over the next five years or so and we felt that this was a good time to make the changes we have announced.

"It is always difficult when you have a coach as popular and good as Toby to see when that comes to an end.

"We have all decided this is the right time. Toby has said he is going out at the top of his game for Ospreys and that is a lovely way for everybody to recall his time here."

No let-up this season

Toby Booth has also coached at London Irish, Bath and Harlequins

Bradley accepts Booth's eventual departure will not be welcomed by some supporters.

"I totally understand that," said Bradley.

"He is very popular with fans and has done a super job at the club.

"Last season the performances and results were outstanding, especially when you consider the constraints we have been working under.

"I accept why fans might not understand why it is happening now but we do think with Mark and Justin coming into new roles within the coaching set-up, that's what put us in the best position."

Ospreys will have take a head coach salary off the wage bill when Booth departs with Jones and Tipuric promoted from within but Bradley insisted a financial element was "not part of the discussions at all".

Bradley also outlined why they announced the decision just before the season started.

"We wanted to be fair to everybody," said Bradley.

"Internally plans were in place and it seemed fair to everybody to say it now rather than appear to be a shock at the end of the season."

Bradley has dismissed suggestions that knowing this will be Booth's last season in charge will affect the Ospreys squad.

"Everybody who knows Toby knows that will not be the case," said Bradley.

"He is more determined than ever this season. I think there is an extra edge and no chance of Toby easing off."

Impressive individual

While Booth is contracted until the end of the 2024-25 season, Bradley was asked what Ospreys would do if another club approached him during this campaign.

"We would talk to Toby and work out what is best for the club and him, he has done a super job for us." said Bradley.

"We would not want to stand in his way for future success. He is contracted and committed to the Ospreys, so we would talk to him and see what is the best way forward."

Booth does not currently have anything lined up, although there should be suitors considering the manner in which he has transformed the Ospreys.

Bradley says a new organisation would be getting a top coach and an impressive individual.

"Whoever takes him on will be getting somebody who is thorough, passionate and well-organised in his work and the results speak for themselves," said Bradley.

"They will be getting a coach who managed to get a team faced with similar difficulties to the other three Welsh sides to win more matches than the others put together last season.

"That is quite a recommendation."