Geordan murphy autobiography of a face

In early September Geordan and Anneka were christening Rex’s little brother Oscar when the Leicester board came calling.

Matt O’Connor had been sacked.

With his apprenticeship well and truly served since the smooth transition from club hero to Welford Road boot-room in 2013, Murphy made no secret of his ambition to become a head coach with Cardiff short-listing him last season.

A Tiger since captivating the great Bob Dwyer, when travelling for a trial with Newbridge College pal James Ferris way back in 1997, the 40-year-old knew the answer he'd have to give.

Suddenly, the original Geordie Murphy has the East Midlands most perilous job. Perhaps he is immune to the poison chalice. Either way, he sups away.

Ripples caused by Will Spencer's tackle against Wasps still rankle but so does what happened Dominic Ryan and how Leicester have been portrayed in the aftermath of the 28-year-old's forced retirement.

Today his slightly revived club - two wins from two - visit Belfast for an opening Champions Cup game that already feels like a European deal breaker.

Gavin Cummiskey: You weren't long realising the difference between assistant and head coach?

Geordan Murphy: Definitely. When your head is on the block it is slightly different but it's good in the same sense.

GC: How did the job come about so early in the season?

GM: We had a review at the end of last season and obviously the board wasn't very happy with us for not making the [English Premiership] play-offs for the first time in 14 years. There were conflicting views on what they wanted to do at that stage. We started back into preseason with Matty [O'Connor]. He had said to the board that there were going to be some changes with the structure of playing but they weren't very happy with results in pre-season and then we opened up with a horrific display against Exeter [losing 40-6 at Sandy Park]. I

He joined them in 2000 after playing rugby league at Huddersfield and Doncaster, and Pontefract-born Booth went on to score 26 tries in 71 appearances for the Tigers.

During a four-year stint at the club, he played his part in Leicester winning two Premiership titles and successive European Cup triumphs.

Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy described his former Leicester team-mate as “a real entertainer on the pitch”.

“Steve was a big personality in a dressing room full of big personalities,” Murphy told the Tigers’ official website.

“He came in from rugby league but settled in quickly, and he played the best rugby of his career at Leicester in a very successful team.

“He was a real entertainer on the pitch and will be remembered as someone who could score tries out of nothing.

“We were shocked to hear of his passing and, on behalf of everyone at Tigers, pass on condolences to his partner and their family and friends.”

After leaving Leicester Booth had a short spell with Bath, but he settled in Leicester following his retirement from playing and set up a business in the city.

A 29-15 home defeat by fierce rivals Northampton Saints and wins for Worcester and Newcastle at the weekend left Leicester legend Murphy in no doubt about the scale of the task his side face.

"It probably is the worst period in Leicester Tigers' history," the 40-year-old said. "So to be in charge of it, having played for the club knocking on 350 times, is a tough one to take.

"For myself and the other coaches, who are dedicating our lives to it, it's not something we do on a Tuesday and a Thursday and walk away and have a beer on a Saturday.

"It affects our home lives, our family lives and our personal lives. We don't sleep and we worry. At the end of the day it is a sport, but it means so much to the people involved so it's tough."

He continued: "We have been under pressure all season; we have not performed anywhere near as well as we could.

"It's a big melting pot of issues, but it is what it is. There are no excuses from me. The guys who are here all want to be here and putting the shirt on. We have a bunch who are working very, very hard to get it right."

Eight teams are separated by just 12 points, while the bottom four have just seven points between them.

Murphy, who took over as head coach in December after an interim spell in charge, said trying to restore confidence was key to turning things around.

"It's incredibly boring but it is genuinely one game at a time," he added.

"It's just trying to scrap for everything and that is where we are at. If you get a run of a few wins then you find yourself climbing the table very quickly.

"Everyone seems to be knocking each other over. It is very tight in the middle so it's not all doom and gloom. I find it difficult to swallow but we are where we are."