Jonny Petrie: Ulster chief executive departs province by mutual consent

Ulster chief executive Jonny Petrie has left the province by mutual consent.

Petrie's departure is another high-profile exit from Ulster after head coach Dan McFarland left in February.

A statement from Ulster Rugby and the IRFU said an interim chief executive would be appointed while a recruitment process was carried out.

Petrie was appointed as CEO in January 2019 and said in March there would be a period of readjustment "this year and into next year" after financial issues.

Kevin Potts, CEO of the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] said: "The IRFU and Ulster Rugby thank Jonny for the five years spent with Ulster Rugby and wish him well, both personally and professionally, for the future."

Ulster's squad are currently in South Africa before Saturday's match with the Stormers with Ireland Under-20s head coach Richie Murphy, who has replaced McFarland on an interim basis.

Former Scotland international Petrie, 47, previously worked in rugby administration with Edinburgh before joining the Belfast outfit.

In a meeting with season ticket holders earlier this month, he said the province were "working with the IRFU to get to a sustainable solution" to financial issues affecting the United Rugby Championship (URC) side.

Petrie explained that inflationary costs and "other factors largely outside of our control" have impacted expenditure.

The club announced that their sponsorship with Kingspan would be extended by a year before ending in 2025.

Ulster currently sit seventh in the URC table, inside the play-off positions, and will face Montpellier in the European Challenge Cup last 16 next month.

Despite another high-profile exit from Ulster, forwards coach Roddy Grant told media that it would not impact preparation for Saturday's match with the Stormers.

"Pro sports team are well used to getting their heads down, focusing and getting on with the job," said Grant, speaking in South Africa before the news about Petrie was confirmed.

"Rugby is an easy one, certainly for the players, that come the weekend when you will be facing some big South Africans who are going to be physical, you don't have much room for anything else other than what is in front of us.

"One thing I have learnt, sport is a great profession. Everyone can think of a million bits of pressure, but you have to focus on the task at hand.

"Any speculation, any pressure or anything like that, everyone - players, staff - you are judged on what you do, so that quickly focuses the mind. It's a tough profession."