When Edinburgh handed Sean Everitt a new two-year contract back in January, there was very little evidence to suggest a brighter future lay ahead.
Having taken charge as head coach in 2023, Everitt has shown nothing in terms of long-term progression and an ability to move the club forward.
Any time Edinburgh look like they have taken a step forward with the occasional decent result, they have too often taken two or three steps back in the opposite direction.
Watching them suffer a 54-17 hammering away against the Lions in South Africa last weekend, it was the latest in a long list of humiliating episodes under Everitt.
They have won only four of their 13 matches in the United Rugby Championship this season. They are hopelessly uncompetitive and have no discernible style of play.
On what grounds could anyone possibly advocate for the head coach to be awarded a new contract? It is scandalous mismanagement from Scottish Rugby.
Sean Everitt’s side suffered a 54-17 hammering away against the Lions in South Africa
We can all argue the rights and wrongs of Gregor Townsend’s new contract as Scotland head coach, but at least he is a big name who has enjoyed some degree of success and has had big results.
Everitt has had none of that. The logical decision would have been to part company at the end of the season and make a fresh start. There is simply no case for him to remain in charge.
With only two professional teams, Scottish Rugby needs both of them to be strong and competitive. They can’t afford one of their teams to simply be making up the numbers.
All of this comes at a time when Hamish Watson and Ben Healy have been sent out on loan to Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Red Bulls respectively.
Even at 34, Watson could still do a job for Edinburgh in the back row. Healy, meanwhile, was back-up to Finn Russell at fly-half in the last World Cup.
He made the switch from Munster and Ireland and looked like he had a bright future in Scotland, but the way he has been mismanaged is a disgrace.
Right now, Edinburgh are an absolute binfire on and off the field. The only way that Scottish Rugby rectify this is to hold up their hands and admit they have made a mistake with Everitt.
