John Mitchell has been reinstated as Western Force coach pending the outcome of a Rugby WA investigation.
Coach returns to training despite ongoing investigation into his conduct
John Mitchell has been reinstated as Western Force coach pending the outcome of Rugby WA's investigation into his behaviour.
Restrictions were placed on the former All Black following a reported mutiny among his players and staff shortly before Christmas.
Retired judge Robert Anderson is in the process of concluding his inquiry and the coach has therefore been allowed to return to oversee training on Monday morning.
Backs' coach John Mulvihill ran the practice session though and Mitchell's future appears safe, unless Anderson's report recommends otherwise.
Enthusiasm
"At the end of the day John Mitchell is our coach and he'll continue in that role," Rugby WA chairman Geoff Stooke said.
"It's not appropriate for me to comment on the inquiry, it's still not completed and we still haven't seen the report.
"If there are issues to be addressed it's up to him and others to address those issues. If recommendations come out regarding the contents of the report we'll address them at the time.
"Let's leave it there, I'm not going to go on, the guys are out there training, John's in charge, he's there working with the assistant coaches and there's a lot of energy and enthusiasm out there."
Change
Mitchell remains convinced he is the right person to lead the Force in 2009 meanwhile, but admitted he needed to delegate more responsibility elsewhere.
"There's always somebody judging you as a coach," Mitchell added.
"I've been doing it for 14-odd years now and in saying that I'm the first to acknowledge I'm not perfect and I'll need to evolve my leadership going forward.
"But relationships go two ways too, so I've got a big job to do. I have to work hard, there's no denying that, but that's got to be the same for all of us.
"I don't feel on my own at all. I think we've taken a real positive direction over the Christmas period about moving forward and ultimately that's going to be our challenge that we actually move forward together.
"For ultimately it's not about John Mitchell, it's not about any individual, it's about us the Emirates Western Force."
Matt Giteau's confirmation that he will see out his contract with the Force should make the job a little easier although there is plenty of work to be done ahead of the first game of the new season in mid-February.
