McKellar on 'toughest' days of career after Bristol loss

Dan McKellar is in his first season in charge of Leicester Tigers

Dan McKellar said he endured the most difficult moments of his coaching career in the days after Leicester Tigers' Premiership hopes were brutally ended.

Tigers led 19-0 with 12 minutes remaining against Bristol Bears last month, only to lose 21-19 and have their top-four aspirations dashed with two games remaining.

The reaction from some supporters following the defeat prompted the club to take to social media to address the abuse and threats made against players and coaches.

When asked about the angry reactions to the season-defining defeat, former ACT Brumbies head coach McKellar said: "It was the toughest few days of my career, without a doubt."

Talking to BBC Radio Leicester, the Australian added: "Leicester Tigers sitting where we are sitting isn't acceptable.

"You feel like you let the staff, players and fans down, so it was high emotions."

The defeat leaves the 11-time Premiership champions third from bottom in the table.

The 47-year-old is in his first season as Tigers boss, having left his job as Australia assistant coach and passed up the opportunity to work at the 2023 World Cup to take the helm of the Premiership side last summer.

His inaugural campaign in England will end empty-handed, with Tigers beaten in the Premiership Cup final earlier this year before going out of the European Champions Cup at the first knockout stage.

McKellar said the defeat by Bristol left him with "extreme disappointment" and added that in the weeks since the loss he has addressed some supporters.

"I caught up with the fans at a function and answered plenty of questions that they had," he said.

"I gave them an insight into where we are."

McKellar said Tigers' own debrief after the defeat has gone beyond what happened in the final 12 disastrous minutes against Bristol.

"We need to look at our programme, look at how we have prepared the squad this year," McKellar said.

"We are human beings, people are going to make mistakes and we have made mistakes this year, it's as simple as that.

"One thing I think I'm really good at as a coach is listening, learning and making sure we come back bigger and better, that we tidy things up in the next couple of weeks and that next season we learn from it."