Mike Ford has revealed that he actively resisted a long- term contract extension at Bath Rugby – and instead proposed that he and the rest of the coaching staff receive just a 12-month extension.
Bath announced last month that head coach Ford and fellow coaches Toby Booth and Neal Hatley had all signed one-year extensions, with former Dragons head coach Darren Edwards also joining the coaching set-up.
The Rec side's form improved markedly last season under Ford's leadership but the former England assistant coach says he had no interest in signing a long-term deal for fear it would reduce his "hunger".
Ford said that he and the rest of the coaches wanted to prove themselves afresh to the club's owner, Bruce Craig, on an annual basis and that a series of one-year deals would suit them just fine.
"We didn't want five-year deals," explained Ford.
"We want to keep proving to Bruce and to the supporters that we are continually improving. A one-year deal will keep each one of us hungry.
"We want to keep delivering. Hopefully, this time next year we will be talking about another year's extension.
"The club wants continuity and I want to prove myself to Bruce again.
"The one-year extension was my idea because, in the past, maybe one or two decisions haven't quite been right.
"Bruce has given all of us this opportunity to grow the club and we want to repay him with success. The deal keeps us motivated."
With Ford, Booth and Hatley all having initially signed three-year deals which began in 2012, their extensions take them through to the end of the 2015-16 season.
But the one-year extension goes against a growing trend of long-term deals among Premiership coaches.
Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder signed a five-year deal at the start of June following the Saints' Premiership and European Challenge Cup triumphs, while in October Leicester boss Richard Cockerill also penned a five-year deal.
Ford's deal may only secure his short-term future at The Rec but he is clear that he sees himself as being at Bath for the long haul.
"It's only a one-year extension but we want to be here for a long time – we are all hungry to get success," he said.
"The recruitment is ongoing and we want the main part of this squad to be together for the next ten years."
