Richard Cockerill: Tigers cannot afford to keep everybody
Tigers coach admits club cannot afford to keep everybody
Wednesday, 17, Mar 2010 03:12
By Michael Younger.
Leicester Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill has admitted that the Guinness Premiership champion's squad must be trimmed next season for financial reasons.
Cockerill told Radio Leicester: "If you want to keep the quality, your squad has to be smaller - and in some cases guys won't be replaced.
"I know a lot of people are leaving but we can't afford to keep everybody.
"Some guys have already been replaced and some guys will be coming in for pre-season."
The Tigers have confirmed in recent weeks that backs Johne Murphy, Aaron Mauger and England forward Lewis Moody are to leave the club at the end of the season, while Australian winger Lote Tuqiri left the side following their emphatic win over London Irish earlier this month.
Along with the confirmed departures of Murphy, Mauger and Moody, there has also been mounting speculation that England internationals Ben Kay and Sam Vesty could also be departing in the summer, and Cockerill admitted: "The squad will be a little bit smaller because every time someone is out of contract I can assure you that they don't come in and ask for less money.
"We have signed other guys who will replace some of those leaving but until we decide it's the right thing to announce them we'll keep that to ourselves."
The only new face definitely on his way to the Tigers at this stage is forward Thomas Waldrom, with the New Zealander joining from Super 14 side the Crusaders