GRANT Gilchrist admits it became clear in the summer that Edinburgh Rugby needed to evolve, whether with Richard Cockerill or without him and that the squad are now lapping it up as Mike Blair gets them ready to play with more freedom.
After the campaign ended disappoin- tingly a couple of months back the players were asked by the club's hierarchy to give feedback on certain areas.
In July it was announced that head coach Cockerill would be leaving after four years at the helm. There
had been rumours swirling for months in the Scottish capital that many of the playing squad were not happy with his dictatorial style of leadership.
Gilchrist, the 31-year-old second-row who has been with the club since 2009, said: “We were involved in a feedback process.
“We didn't know what was going to be done with that feedback and we weren't involved in any kind of decision making, but it was clear we needed to change a few things having under performed.
“We where we are now with a new coach.
“As a player group we had a good grasp of what all the players felt. It was not a surprise to us, none of it was a surprise, we knew.
“We were all pretty clear on what feedback we gave and that certain things needed to change.”
The man tasked with replacing Cockerill is former Edinburgh and Scotland scrum-half Blair and the club will try and play a more expansive game on his watch.
Gilchrist, left, added: “It's fresh, it's new and somebody with respect that Mike has doesn't need to scream shout to get the response he wants. It's been good to see the response of the players in the last few weeks of training.
“Sometimes that fresh approach is needed and it can breathe new life into guys.
“We weren't able to evolve the culture and the game plan to a place where we could kick on and I think that's why Mike has come in and we're really excited.
“That balance of keeping the fundamentals [put in place by Cockerill], but also bringing in a freedom and a confidence especially to the way we attack, is really exciting the boys.
“They're lapping it up and there is a buzz about things.”
