New Ravenhill CEO Hugh McCaughey vows to make a short-term difference on and off the pitch at crisis-hit Ulster

Some others would consider themselves to just be doing some variation of seat warming, just keeping things ticking over for whomever is entrusted with the job for the foreseeable future. But that is very much not McCaughey’s approach.

Given the responsibility of trying to guide Ulster into the next era after Jonny Petrie’s sacking last month, the former Southern Trust Health executive has the unenviable job of trying to turn things around at Ravenhill amidst the turmoil.

Ulster Rugby CEO doesn't want job on a permanent basis

“The next six months will set the platform for the next two or three seasons. There’s a huge amount that needs done,” says McCaughey.

“But the potential is here, it’s trying to get the right environment and processes around to create the situation where we can be really successful.

“I can’t approach it as if I’m only holding it and I can’t make decisions because somebody else is coming in six months. We’ve a lot to do in the professional game, in terms of our finance and commercial income.

“Some of our young players who have progressed for three or four years, in the last year have seen that development pause. The talent is here, the ability is here, how do we create the environment that progress starts again and we can start to challenge for trophies again?

“A big thing for me is how do we reconnect and give our fans the chance to influence the future of Ulster Rugby? I want to look at a three-to-five-year strategic plan — fans need to have a voice in that, sponsors need to have a voice in that.”

It’s not hard to see why McCaughey is keen to have the fans involved given his history in the local game. A former Senior Cup winner, he has played for his hometown Ards, Queen’s and Dungannon, and has long been a season ticket holder at Ravenhill — a position he admits he will return to once his CEO duties have come to an end in October.

Between now and then, he has plenty to address in his inbox. He’s inherited a club that recorded a near £1million loss in their annual reports last season. They have no title sponsor beyond next season, either shirt or stadium. It is believed that a kit manufacturer still needs to be found after a proposed deal with Kappa fell through. Star player Steven Kitshoff has already been confirmed to be departing and others have asked for early releases from their contracts.

It’s a tall order and then some, and McCaughey is under no illusions as to what he has been brought in to do. But, equally, he’s not

Soft spoken Hugh McCaughey may be, but his words provide the volume. Interim his role may be, and will remain or so he insists, but that doesn’t mean his job as Ulster Rugby chief executive is one of the lame duck variety.

Some others would consider themselves to just be doing some variation of seat warming, just keeping things ticking over for whomever is entrusted with the job for the foreseeable future. But that is very much not McCaughey’s approach.

Given the responsibility of trying to guide Ulster into the next era after Jonny Petrie’s sacking last month, the former Southern Trust Health executive has the unenviable job of trying to turn things around at Ravenhill amidst the turmoil.

“The next six months will set the platform for the next two or three seasons. There’s a huge amount that needs done,” says McCaughey.

“But the potential is here, it’s trying to get the right environment and processes around to create the situation where we can be really successful.

“I can’t approach it as if I’m only holding it and I can’t make decisions because somebody else is coming in six months. We’ve a lot to do in the professional game, in terms of our finance and commercial income.

“Some of our young players who have progressed for three or four years, in the last year have seen that development pause. The talent is here, the ability is here, how do we create the environment that progress starts again and we can start to challenge for trophies again?

“A big thing for me is how do we reconnect and give our fans the chance to influence the future of Ulster Rugby? I want to look at a three-to-five-year strategic plan — fans need to have a voice in that, sponsors need to have a voice in that.”

It’s not hard to see why McCaughey is keen to have the fans involved given his history in the local game. A former Senior Cup winner, he has played for his hometown Ards, Queen’s and Dungannon, and has long been a season ticket holder at Ravenhill — a position he admits he will return to once his CEO duties have come to an end in October.

Between now and then, he has plenty to address in his inbox. He’s inherited a club that recorded a near £1million loss in their annual reports last season. They have no title sponsor beyond next season, either shirt or stadium. It is believed that a kit manufacturer still needs to be found after a proposed deal with Kappa fell through. Star player Steven Kitshoff has already been confirmed to be departing and others have asked for early releases from their contracts.

It’s a tall order and then some, and McCaughey is under no illusions as to what he has been brought in to do. But, equally, he’s not attributing to the doom and gloom feeling around the province right now.

“Bringing stability. Giving confidence that we have stability,” he continues of his role.

“People say things are dire and awful, but we have a lot to be proud and optimistic about. We have the platform to move forward.

“There are a lot of things around how we organise things. We’re seeing a fabulous growth in participation. We’ve seen an explosion in the women’s game, it’s the fastest growing sport. We’ve seen a lot of positives in the domestic game. But there are areas we can strengthen, especially with the long-term strategic plan, having clarity over what we’re delivering over the next three, six, nine months.

“The final piece is what we lost about 15 months ago was that continual improvement. How do we create a space where our young players grow and get better? And even those who are part of the organisation?

“Look at the All Blacks, they always are looking to continually improve and we need that as part of our DNA. I think we can.

“I think this is the best generation of young players since that golden generation of Ferris, Best, Trimble, Bowe, Henry, Cave, Humphreys. They were the core of our team for a decade. This crop of players could be just as good. How do we build a culture and environment around them where they thrive?”

Part of the problem lies, of course, in that thorniest of issues: money. While the world is currently going through a cost of living crisis, which does, understandably, make things tougher to run a business, losing almost seven figures in one financial year will naturally hamstring a team, not least one that relies on supplementing a predominantly homegrown squad with big names from around the globe.

But any fears that Ulster may have to go without any new arrivals for the foreseeable future due to a slashing of the budget appear premature, at least where McCaughey is concerned.

“We’ve had to reduce our playing budget by 10 to 15 per cent, yes, but what we have that other teams don’t have is this pathway of players coming through,” states the interim chief.

“At the same time, you can’t question the dedication of the likes of Alan O’Connor, Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan — they’re Ulstermen through and through.

“We’ll continue to look at bringing in players from outside. Do I anticipate we will be looking at those players for next season? Yes, I do. But we won’t be taking impulsive decisions. We’re looking very carefully at what we need and obviously at this stage of the off-season, the options are more limited. But we can supplement the playing squad.”

Still, getting Ulster back on a strong financial footing has to be a priority for McCaughey. He himself won’t provide all the solutions in six months — the problems run much deeper than that and will require a significant overhaul to fix — but he is confident that the strategems can be put in place to start the healing process during his tenure.

“There’s no question it hasn’t been a good year financially for a variety of reasons. It isn’t a short-term fix or a year fix, but I am not worried that we can’t do it,” he says, adding that replacing title sponsors Kingspan will be part of his remit.

“It is entirely possible that we can put a financial plan in place that gets us back to stability. We’re doing that in consultancy with the IRFU.

“We’re very clear that we need a robust playing and coaching budget within that to be competitive. I see that as part of the essential things for me to do over the next six months.

“This narrative that we’re in a death spin or we’re in a financial crisis... no, it hasn’t been a good year but have we a future? Of course we have. We have to address this but money isn’t our objective. Bringing people joy through rugby is our purpose, the money is the context in which we do it.

“We will fix that and focus on delivering on our purpose.”

And the purpose extends well beyond what happens at Ravenhill on a Friday (and the occasional Saturday) night. With Ulster Rugby encompassing all aspects of the game within the province, McCaughey has targeted growth beyond just the men’s team.

“This is a massive time for the women’s game. We’re seeing an increase in participation. There’s £5.1million going out to 29 clubs as part of the Levelling Up scheme to build up their facilities. The opportunity to connect with our community and add value to them,” he reveals.

“All of those are things that need to progress over the next six months so we can play our part.”

McCaughey will be playing his part in his new role, though just how much he can actually do remains to be seen. The new era begins now — we await to see just what exactly it holds.

to the doom and gloom feeling around the province right now.

“Bringing stability. Giving confidence that we have stability,” he continues of his role.

“People say things are dire and awful, but we have a lot to be proud and optimistic about. We have the platform to move forward.

“There are a lot of things around how we organise things. We’re seeing a fabulous growth in participation. We’ve seen an explosion in the women’s game, it’s the fastest growing sport. We’ve seen a lot of positives in the domestic game. But there are areas we can strengthen, especially with the long-term strategic plan, having clarity over what we’re delivering over the next three, six, nine months.

“The final piece is what we lost about 15 months ago was that continual improvement. How do we create a space where our young players grow and get better? And even those who are part of the organisation?

“Look at the All Blacks, they always are looking to continually improve and we need that as part of our DNA. I think we can.

“I think this is the best generation of young players since that golden generation of Ferris, Best, Trimble, Bowe, Henry, Cave, Humphreys. They were the core of our team for a decade. This crop of players could be just as good. How do we build a culture and environment around them where they thrive?”

Part of the problem lies, of course, in that thorniest of issues: money. While the world is currently going through a cost of living crisis, which does, understandably, make things tougher to run a business, losing almost seven figures in one financial year will naturally hamstring a team, not least one that relies on supplementing a predominantly homegrown squad with big names from around the globe.

But any fears that Ulster may have to go without any new arrivals for the foreseeable future due to a slashing of the budget appear premature, at least where McCaughey is concerned.

“We’ve had to reduce our playing budget by 10 to 15 per cent, yes, but what we have that other teams don’t have is this pathway of players coming through,” states the interim chief.

“At the same time, you can’t question the dedication of the likes of Alan O’Connor, Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan — they’re Ulstermen through and through.

“We’ll continue to look at bringing in players from outside. Do I anticipate we will be looking at those players for next season? Yes, I do. But we won’t be taking impulsive decisions. We’re looking very carefully at what we need and obviously at this stage of the off-season, the options are more limited. But we can supplement the playing squad.”

Still, getting Ulster back on a strong financial footing has to be a priority for McCaughey. He himself won’t provide all the solutions in six months — the problems run much deeper than that and will require a significant overhaul to fix — but he is confident that the strategems can be put in place to start the healing process during his tenure.

“There’s no question it hasn’t been a good year financially for a variety of reasons. It isn’t a short-term fix or a year fix, but I am not worried that we can’t do it,” he says, adding that replacing title sponsors Kingspan will be part of his remit.

“It is entirely possible that we can put a financial plan in place that gets us back to stability. We’re doing that in consultancy with the IRFU.

“We’re very clear that we need a robust playing and coaching budget within that to be competitive. I see that as part of the essential things for me to do over the next six months.

“This narrative that we’re in a death spin or we’re in a financial crisis... no, it hasn’t been a good year but have we a future? Of course we have. We have to address this but money isn’t our objective. Bringing people joy through rugby is our purpose, the money is the context in which we do it.

“We will fix that and focus on delivering on our purpose.”

And the purpose extends well beyond what happens at Ravenhill on a Friday (and the occasional Saturday) night. With Ulster Rugby encompassing all aspects of the game within the province, McCaughey has targeted growth beyond just the men’s team.

“This is a massive time for the women’s game. We’re seeing an increase in participation. There’s £5.1million going out to 29 clubs as part of the Levelling Up scheme to build up their facilities. The opportunity to connect with our community and add value to them,” he reveals.

“All of those are things that need to progress over the next six months so we can play our part.”

McCaughey will be playing his part in his new role, though just how much he can actually do remains to be seen. The new era begins now — we await to see just what exactly it holds.