Thank you for the days! The days of hope and triumph.
Thank you for taking us to venues, matches and results that we had always dreamed of, but were too often just beyond our reach.
Thank you for our first win on English soil, for the reprise of the Leicester demolition at Ravenhill; for the storming of Thomond, for the massed ranks at the Aviva, and for Twickenham 2012.
Not everything in life works out the way one plans it, but you have taken us a long, long way on that journey. We always had hope, and now we believe.
Very best wishes for the future, from all the fans at Ravenhill and the nine proud counties of Ulster. Although your gone, we still believe, we won’t forget a single day!
Fans are invited to post their messages to Brian here,
Thanks, URSC.
BBC
Brian, thank you for the last few years, you should be very proud of yourself. We all look forward to you developing a great future for ulster rugby @ the academy. Cheers
A dignified no nonsence manager you brought great credit to yourself and believe to Ulster. Thomond, Aviva, Twickenham – with my boys I wouldn’t have missed them for the world!
Brian, you’ll always be fondly remembered by the fans as the man who revolutionised Ulster. Thank you for all you’ve done, and we hope you’ll continue to nurture the future stars of Ulster and Ireland.
Brian, many, many thanks for turning this great ship around…….
Rock(e) on McGlock. Get that academy sorted out pretty damn quick. We know that you can do another great job there.
Rocky.
You have even got me cheerin’ now! SUFTUM
Thankyou Brian for the last 3 years. You have and hopefully will continue to be a great servant to Ulster Rugby. All the very best for the future SUFTUM!!!!
Thanks for everything Brian. A great coach, and a true gentleman.
Can’t say i’m sorry to see you go Brian…you’ve cost me a bloody fortune this season.
Seriously…best wishes in your new post and good health to you and yours…we should all be thankful for where you’ve taken us.
atb…
Thanks for the last few years Brian, you’ve done fantastically and should be hugely proud of your work. You’ve led Ulster forward with dignity, hope you stay on and bring the next crop through!
Thank you brian, what you did with Ulster was
EPIC!
Keep it up, and bring through some young guys to help us take the next big step forwards. Well done and best wishes for the future.
Thank you for all the work you’ve done for Ulster. You’ll be an excellent person within the Ulster Rugby Academy.
Brian – there’s always room on the terrace at the Aquinas 22, if you fancy it. I doubt you’d need to bring much in the line of beer money!
Thank You Brian for your commitment to Ulster over the last 3 years and thank you for taking us from rock bottom to 2nd best team in europe. Good Luck #suftum
You should step down a very proud man Brian. A disappointing result at Twickenham yes, but, we were beaten by a class side, the best in Europe without doubt. No doubt you will use the experience of Saturday to drive you on to achieve great things with Ulster’s players of the future.
Good luck
Thank you Brian for all you have done for us and our team.Good luck with the young pups.
Good Luck Brian, to be honest I was surprised by your appointment 3 years ago, but nowhere near as baffled as I am by your demotion! Looking forward to seeing the Academy boys make the step up over the next few seasons
On saturday evening, before getting on the team coach, Brian took time to shake hands with fans, apologise for the result and thank us for the support. Whatever we were feeling he was feeling, times 10.
So, no need to apologise, and thank YOU Brian. Best of luck in your new role.
You have been a smashing coach and the way you have turned the club around has been smashing. It has been smashing witnessing the last three years in charge. I have no doubt you will do a smashing job in the academy. (Just thought I had to use your favourite word because it is the best way to describe you; a smashing man)
Smashing!
Brian,
I remember standing on the terrace back on a cold wet windy afternoon watching us getting thumped by Llanelli Scarlets in the Heineken Cup. Ulster were a dying club, we were the laughing stock of Irish Rugby, our fortress had been stormed, we were loosing our best players to our rivals. In 3 short years you have turned our province into a force again. I was in Bath for both victories, I was in Brussels when the snow came down and the game was called off. If it hadn’t been called off I believe we’d have beaten the mighty Stade. I travelled to the MK and danced on the streets of Northampton for just making a QF. I was on the South Terrace in Thomond at Easter when we came of age (I shed a tear), I was in Lansdowne when we made the leap to the final. You have made us proud of our team again. THANK YOU!
You now have the most important job in Ulster Rugby, find us the youngsters who will bring the Heineken Cup home!
STAND UP!!
Thanks for putting the pride back into the shirt and turning this club back in the right direction. Best of luck with the Academy which is crucial to any future success and where i have no doubt you will just as good a job.
Thanks for all you endeavour with Ulster. You have put us on the rugby map again and have been a truly excellent ambassador for Ulstermen.
All the best!
Brian, thanks for taking us from the doldroms to the heights we had not experienced for a long time. You will be missed behind the posts at Ravenhill. You have left big rugby boots to fill.
All the best in the new position. You will not be forgotten by the Ulster fans.
SUFTUM AND BRIAN !!
Heading up the Academy may not be the top job at Ulster Rugby, but it is possibly the most important job at Ulster Rugby. If we are to become a true force in European Rugby, year on year, we will need the depth and skills across the entire squad, not just the First XV or even the First XXIII.
Brian – you have taken us on this rollercoaster ride and brought us back to the heights that we all believe we should be occupying on a permanent basis, not just from time to time. We thank you for that, but I hope and think we will be thanking you much more in years to come for developing the squad that can keep us at the top for a long time to come.
Whatever the future holds for you, Brian, Ulster will forever be indebted to you for playing such a massive part in regaining our pride, and all the time doing it with dignity and with honour. Personally I would like to thank you for the friendliness you have shown to me and for acknowledging the fans through the Supporters’ Club.
Sincere best wishes and utmost respect.
Ken
Brian,
You are the sort of bloke that makes me proud to be an Ulster man and to stand up for the Ulstertmen. Your success over the last two or three years has been phenomenal and I hope that you are proud of your achievements, proud to be an Ulsterman and to stand up with the rest of us for the Ulstermen
Brian,
When the sun broke through at Twickenham just before the kick-off and I stood and surveyed the ground, filled with 81,000 people and the noise and the flags my thoughts were of those wet dark windy Ravenhill nights with you, a lonely figure, behind the posts – watching, planning and waiting. You have slowly brought this team, your team, to where it is. And we all know where it is, and there is more to come. I know that whatever lies ahead you will be at the heart of it, and that makes me proud to be an Ulsterman. SUFTUM and good luck
Thank you for three great years. We are all so proud of you. Ulster needs more people like you. Thank you, you were amazing. Good Luck
Brian, your sucess has cost us a fortune lol
The piggybank has been raided from a weekend in limerick, a weekend in dublin and a weekend in twickers but never has money been so well spent! This will live long in our memories. The demolition of leicester at Ravenhill was something very special and something that will be talked about for a long time. You are a true Ulsterman Brian, we will miss you but your new role is also vital and i know you will do an exceptional job. I’m sure we will still be seeing you at the Fortress on a Friday night. Thanks and good luck.
Brian
You are an absolute legend. You have taken us places we could only have dreamed of. Lots and lots of luck to you in your new position. Stand up for the Ulsterman!
What a fantastic three seasons, a great time to be a Ulster Rugby supporter – thanks Brian!
Epitome of a real gentleman. Over the past couple of years
you have led us through our “Winter of discontent” to the
dawn of “glorious Summer”.
Words cannot express the gratitude felt by so many.
SUFTUM.
Brian Many thanks for the good times. I look forward to giving you a good cheer when we are back in the final next year and you are there to watch the talent in your capacity as Ireland coach…Cheers
You are a legend Brian. Memories abound of great times with you in charge. Forever greatful. utp
Felt I had to add to the other comments and say we , the faithful supporters owe you a real vote of thanks for taking the team so far in three years. It’s been a real experience to go to Thomond and the Aviva to see the boys perform. Now it’s back to Ravenhill , but with real hope for the next season. Thanks Brian
Brian,
Thanks for turning Ulster around. You have given me and my firends and family a lot to smile about in the last 3 seasons – and you have played a significant part in bringing Ulster, and Northern Ireland, together; united behind one team. Thanks for many happy memories (even – especially! – including yelling myself hoarse at Twickenham).
Going to Thomond, the Aviva,and especially standing in Twickenham on Saturday made up for all those cold,wet miserable nights at Ravenhill, You must be so proud of what you have achieved. You a true Ulsterman.
Good luck for the future.
Brian
you should be very proud of your acheivements at Ulster. You have led a developing team through to a position where we are one of the top teams in Europe. Your super coaching skills have help bring through younger members of the team, whilst also making the most of experienced players the club has brought in, and getting them all working together. Thank you for all your help and effort.
Brian
You can leave the post knowing that Ulster rugby is in a much better place than when you took over the reigns,and as a result we all have some very happy memories to look back on.
May I also say as well as being a great manager what a gentleman and ambassador for Ulster rugby you have been.
I’m sure all Ulster fans will miss you at the helm next year,but we all wish you all the best for the future.
Thank you
SUFTUM
Thank you Brian for bringing Ulster back to life; that win over Leicester was surely the greatest display by an Ulster team; Resurrection Sunday @ Thomond Park. In the end the players let you down at Twickenham. We share with Brian O’Driscoll the inability to comprehend why you are still not there. You will be a hard act to follow. Best wishes.
Brian, you are a man of class, dignity and immense talent. Thank you and best of luck for the future.
Wonderful effort, Brian. Sincere thanks for great memories, and very best wishes going forward as you nurture the homegrown talent into future Ulster heroes.
Brian, I can only echo the many comments made by you legions of friends and Ulster supporters. Living in exile in Dublin but travelling up for all those Friday night home games over the last few years and experiencing the highs and lows both there, Bath in the snow, Milton Keynes in the baking sun and this incredible journey in 2012 has given me memories I will never forget. You are a true Son of Ulster and can justifiably take your place in the pantheon of greats. I am also sure that the best is yet to come and that you will be the cornerstone for that future success. As Stade Francais found out to their cost in 99 Ulster are more than a just a team. This side are and will be a force for unity and good both on an off the pitch. Be very proud of your part in that and be assured of all our best wishes now and in the future. Well done Sir.
A memorable period of Ulster Rugby thanks in no small way to your Knowledge, profesionalism and persona. Ulster Rugby owes you a great deal of gratitude for all you achieved. Best wishes for the future.
Brain, it looked as if Ulster were on the fall. Then you arrived and ever since, Ulster have been on the up! To be honest, I think the fans would rather you stay. Unfortunately all we can do is wish you the best in the future. You can leave Ulster Rugby knowing its in a far, far better place.
Word cannot say how much you have helped ULSTER back to their feet. I started coming to watch the only team some years ago and watched our team on their knees. We brought in an import and nothing realy changed. We brought in an home grown coach and the transformation was great. The fortress was rebuilt with a sturdy path put in for the supporters and closed to the outside teams. I was very surprised to hear that you were going to the academy but after thinking long and hard i could understand the reasoning, your ability to get the players playing for each other was plain to see. Their direction and desire i believe is on its way back. I hope that the new coach can get the players motavated like you could. Best wishes for the new post and your labours will be seen for the years to come. SUFTUM
Thanks for the great work to date in turning Ulster around and making us a realistic prospect for major honours and best wishes for the continued hard work needed at the Academy to take and keep Ulster at the top of European rugby.
Your contribution to Ulster Rugby has exceded my wildest expectations. You have cost me a fortune but it was worth every penny. Thank you. You are a top man.
Sorry to see you go Brian. You have brought Ulster rugby on leaps and bounds. We are all very thankful and pleased with where Ulster Rugby is now because of you. The academy can only but benefit greatly from your wisdom. We need more homegrown Ulster talent and you are the man to do this. Again many thanks. Caroline
Brian,
I ‘ve been there at Ravenhill when we couldn’t beat a drum let alone a rugby team!
But the transformation under your leadership in the last 3 years has been incredible.
Some may say your move will be the first teams’ loss and the Academy’s gain, either way it will be Ulster Rugbys’ gain.
From the bottom of my heart many, many thanks for all that you have done and like so many others I wish you all the best in your new role at the Academy
thank you so much brian, for everything.
alan, voluntary steward
Brian, I genuinely believe you have laid the foundations for an era of success for Ulster Rugby. It’s now up to others to make sure it happens, but you are indispensable to the future of this team. Indispensable. And I hope they recognise that, because just like Leinster our success will be built on the quality of players coming through the system.
Thank you Brian, for giving us the days to stand up again. You having the province buzzing. Best of luck with future ventures
Brian. all the very best for the future. Good luck at the academy and bring on the next generation – have no doubt in your abilities to do that. Ulster are moving forward and you started the process. Perhaps you will be 1XV coach again – only time will tell
Brian, what a legend – the team and fans have benefited from a true star. The comments from the players in the media over recent days say it all – a reflection of all you have meant to them. And the depth of feeling of the comments from fans speaks for itself. Enjoy the new phase of input – we can’t wait to reap the benefits.
Words are not enough to express your tenure as coach magnificent brilliant
A big thank you
You made a team believe in itself again – That will be a tough act to follow. thank you and good luck
Brian,
You put pride and passion back into the Ulster shirt again. Just when I was despairing for the future you gave us a great three years with many monkeys now off our backs. Wishing you every sucess at the acadamy.
Thank you Brian,your contribution to Ulster Rugby will never be forgotten by players and supporters alike. A true gentleman of Ulster.
Brian,
Thank you for the commitment & work you have put into turning Ulster into a 1st class team, over the past few years, who now have the ability and the belief to be the best!
I wish you all the best in your new role and hope you are as successful in it as you have been as coach! Good luck!
Turned Ulster around from being the laughing stock of Europe to a team that no one will want to play against, Leicester, Clermont at home and Munster away will live long in the memory of Ulster supporters. An Ulster legend, thanks Brian…
A big thank you Brian,
You have brought belief back to Ulster Rugby. The progress under your command in 3 seasons has been incredible.
Now your next chapter in the history of Ulster Rugby awaits, find that local talent that will keep UR at the top of Europe.