THERE IS something symbolic about the appointment of Eric Elwood as Connacht coach. As branch chief executive Gerry Kelly said, the announcement Elwood is to take over from Michael Bradley, who is in his seventh season in what may be toughest job in Irish rugby, lifts the lid on “one of the worst kept secrets in Irish rugby”.

Nonetheless, even as the IRFU concludes a review of the Connacht branch and confirmation that contracts of both players and management are to be limited to one year, the future of the west of Ireland set-up seems to be entering another critical phase.

Enter Elwood, a Galway city boy and always the embodiment of the higher possibilities for Connacht rugby, as he was one of the few who made it to the pinnacle of the sport while rarely straying from his base in the Sportsground.

Elwood’s excellence made heads turn west. The hope will be he can repeat that trick in his new role. A hugely popular figure in Connacht sport, Elwood’s appointment comes as the province resume their Magners League campaign against Glasgow tomorrow night and prepare for a quarter-final in the European Challenge Cup.

The club are enjoying a mixed season, but the imposition of one-year contracts was interpreted by many as the return of storm clouds over the Sportsground.

“When this was mentioned first, I got a bit scared,” Elwood admitted yesterday. “But I genuinely see this as positive, because the branch went to the union about this and they are working together and I firmly believe that, after this review, positive things will come out of it.

“We want to be one of four, not three plus one. We all know that there is a review going on, but the most positive thing is that all the players have signed with us and we have indigenous young players coming through. So that continuity is important. The basis of the review is to bring Connacht forward as an entity in terms of how we run our business.”

Elwood’s succession marks the culmination of a long and distinguished relationship with the province. Introducing him yesterday, Kelly recalled his time coaching the Connacht schools set-up when “this young Jes’ student presented himself for trial.

“Selection for the outhalf position was very easy in that he was a walk-on to the team. He played for two seasons with us and then played at all levels for Connacht, except for a brief dalliance at Lansdowne.

“The stats are there: 168 appearances for Connacht, 38 for Ireland. That says a lot about the man. Young players that we sign now get tired of hearing me talk about how Eric trained both as an amateur and a professional in Connacht. The two hardest trainers I ever saw in Connacht were Eric and Jerry Flannery.”

Elwood began coaching the Connacht Under-20s towards the end of his playing career, and went on to coach the Irish Under-20 side to a Grand Slam. For the past few seasons he has been assistant to Bradley, to whom handsome tribute was paid.

Elwood, though, is under no illusions that the bottom line in professionalism is reached on the accountant’s table. In an impressive synopsis of his ambitions for Connacht, he mentioned consistency on the playing field but also the obligation the club has to attract more customers and fans.

“My vision . . . yeah, I want to get off the bottom of that bloody table. I have to get our players to believe it so that when we are away from home we still aim to get something out of the game. I want to get us off that table.

“I think it is very important that I get people walking up the road and in that gate to support Connacht. Obviously Leinster and Munster – good luck to ’em, they have a great brand.

“And we need to show ambition. Maybe it is putting my reputation out there, but that doesn’t matter to me. I want to take on that challenge. Yes, it is for one year. It’s not ideal. But that’s the challenge. Never stood back from a challenge before.

“And we have to change our mindset on and off the park and change our results and performances. I relish this challenge. But reputation . . . that doesn’t bother me.”