GARY Gold has vowed to give the leadership and direction which Worcester Warriors missed after the surprise exit of Dean Ryan.

The experienced Gold is hoping to add a “little bit more continuity” to Warriors after pledging his future to the club for at least next season.

Gold said a lot of the reasons for Warriors’ poor start to this campaign could be explained by off-the-field problems.

However, the former South Africa assistant coach believes he can help steer Warriors’ ship in the right direction.

Ryan’s departure as director of rugby last summer to take up a role with the English Rugby Union led to head coach Carl Hogg and high performance director being handed dual leadership roles.

However, the joint leadership experiment didn’t work.

Hogg was put in sole charge when results didn’t improve and he introduced former Warriors’ forwards coach Phil Davies as a consultant on a short-term basis.

Gold was then brought in as director of rugby at the end of January with former Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths coming in as a consultant.

Johnston, having returned to his original position, left Warriors on April 1 after Paddy Anson had replaced Christ Hart as the club’s head of strength and conditioning.

“I think you need a person who is going to give the club direction,” said Gold.

“When Dean left it left a void through no fault of anybody.

“I think people were looking around and not knowing who the next person to give leadership was.

“But that has long gone now and I think it was a difficult time for everybody.

“I must stress I don’t think anybody was particularly in the wrong. That’s how life works.

“An opportunity came up for Dean which he couldn’t turn down and I completely respect that.

“I like Dean a lot and I think he’s an outstanding coach but I think the circumstances were tough on Worcester at the time.”

Gold believed it took Warriors a period of time to realise what they needed until their capitulation against Gloucester at Kingsholm in January.

With Bristol improving, Warriors were be sliding towards relegation before the board took the decision to appoint Gold until the end of the campaign.

“It took a while for them to realise that was what they needed,” recalled Gold.

“As you know, I was asked to come in and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

“I think I have a competent group of management working here.

“Like any of us, all we need is a bit of direction and then we will buy into something.

“I think I’ve previously alluded to the fact some of the problems (at the club) had to do with on-the-field things but a lot of it had to do with what was happening off the field.

“I am hoping I can add a lit bit more continuity because there has been a lot of change at the club over a number of years. No matter what the change is, it’s always disruptive.”

South African Omar Mouneimne has joined Warriors as their new defence and kicking strategy coach, with Simon Cross switching to take charge of the breakdown area.

Gold added: “To try to lessen the disruption at the moment, the [players have got to know me a little better in the last 10 to 12 weeks and know what I am about.

“Hopefully, we can continue to grow in our structures and get better without all the off-field disruptions.”

He confirmed that Hogg would be remaining at Sixways next term.

“Carl is the head coach and responsible for all the day to day stuff of managing and coaching the team and on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. In terms of the strategy, I work very closely with him.”