Vern Cotter: Clermont say no to releasing coach for Scotland
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union

Clermont Auvergne say Vern Cotter will remain as head coach until the end of next season despite his agreement to join Scotland in June 2014.
The French Top 14 club held a special meeting to discuss the New Zealander's future after the Scots hinted they would like him to join them sooner.
But Clermont announced on their website that they would "maintain Vern Cotter in office for the season 2013-14".
The 51-year-old is
The board of Clermont Auvergne held a meeting on Monday and in a statement said: "President Rene Fontes, his successor, Eric Cromieres, and board of directors have unanimously approved the proposal of Jean-Marc Lhermet, athletic director and vice-president, to maintain Vern Cotter in office for the sports season 2013-14.
"In this context, the ambitions of the club to do better than the previous season remain unchanged."
That echoes Cotter's statement after his side had lost in the semi-finals of the domestic league play-offs.
He said he wanted to leave the club after having another attempt to win the Heineken Cup, Clermont having a week earlier also lost in the final of European club rugby's major tournament.
Scottish Rugby announced immediately after Cotter's statement that he had been chosen to be their head coach from June 2014.
Chief executive Mark Dodson said he was willing to wait until then to secure "the best man for the job".
However, that arrangement was put in doubt after Fontes told his club website that Cotter had offered his resignation.
This was while the SRU received some for not securing his services earlier.
The national parent body insists that it was not a case of it failing to agree a compensation fee with the French Top 14 club.
Unless Cotter is released from his Clermont contract, , who is taking up the role as Scotland's director of rugby, will continue as interim head coach.
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Grant & Laids were a major omission given lack of depth at those positions. Others suffered from strong competition like Visser, KB & Beattie.
Grant should have been there definitely instead of Stevens. But he wasn't picked, because he's from Scotland, and Gatland felt like he had to put English players in, so he wasn't beaten up. such as Hartley.
I agree Grant has been unlucky and I expect him to be the first prop called up if any injuries occur.
Excited about Cotters appointment he'll be good for Scotland. Hope he joins sooner than 2014.
Behind the scenes it may be more complex than we are seeing but the public face of this creates the impression that two well established rugby institutions can't manage a contract negotiaion.
Scotland are always the poor relation in the Lions, but all well and good for our own summer tour.
The point is that Phillips is Gatland's 9, with Youngs as Plan B on the bench. Murray was preferred to Laidlaw or Care because he is a like for like replacement if Phillips gets injured. That is the clear selection logic, whether or not one agrees with it.
@42
Maybe the BBC don't want to advertise for Sky, who have the TV rights for the SA tournament involving Scotland....!
Best thing for Scotland is to have as few players as possible in Lions and to focus on our own develpment as a team. Less injuries and no real loss not to be in Lions squad. Roll on next world cup!
@39 think you mean prop for Grant not hooker ;-)
I wonder how SJ and VC will manage the strategy over the next 12 months. May be exciting times for us.