Dean Ryan has admitted that things need to change at Kingsholm © Getty Images

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Gloucester boss Dean Ryan has sounded a warning shot to his under-performing players after their Heineken Cup exit at the hands of Biarritz last weekend by declaring that "all is in the pot for change".

Ryan's side produced two feeble displays against Cardiff and Biarritz and exited the tournament with barely a whimper, dredging up unpleasant memories of their failure to convert either of their top-place Premiership finishes in 2007 and 2008 into a title win.

"We've had a pretty strong view of the game for the last two or three years, and I'm sure we've entertained an awful lot of people when we're playing it, but at the same time we haven't delivered, so everything's in the pot for change," Ryan told Sky Sports' Rugby Club. "It's not just about a new broom and change people and carry on doing the same things, because that wouldn't be right. Everything's under review, and from that review we've got to decide a way out.

"I think something has to change, you can't just stick with everything the same. It may be a shift in selection; it may be a shift in emphasis to other aspects of our game."

As a player, Ryan tasted league success with Wasps in 1990 and as captain of Newcastle in 1998 but his Gloucester sides have failed to embody their coach's graft and understanding of the game. While Gloucester are a quick and often exciting side to watch, they lack a cutting edge and the physicality to play their expansive game on a solid foundation in pressure situations.

"In this game you do need something out there," he said. "You're so cut off as a coach, you do need something which ties in: "yes, that's what I want my side to be". Now clearly I wanted it to be a footballing side. I've recruited these guys and have devised a way of playing over the last few years which has suited us best. At the same time, there are huge voids of things I felt I could have filled if I was there as a player. We haven't been able to solve that.

"I think some of it is personality-based and therefore we haven't been able to solve it in bringing that individual in. There isn't a simple answer, and believe me, I've been trawling the marketplace for a new-age Dean Ryan or something, but we have lacked at times, certainly in times when we've been in a big European tie where those personalities are key."

Gloucester's position as Premiership nearly-men does not sit well with the Kingsholm faithful, among the most vociferous set of supporters in Europe, and their patience will have been stretched to breaking-point by their team's inability to grind out a result against a 14-man Cardiff two weeks ago.

"This is a club that deserves success," said Ryan. "I think we've made such big strides; it would be one of the most disappointing chapters to see it slide away. I think we've got so close in previous year, we're talking finger-grip on that last bit, but we've never done it, so it would be incredibly disappointing for this to be a chapter not to go on to be successful."

With Gloucester still in the hunt for the Premiership again this season, the side are currently second behind Saturday's opponents London Irish, many could forgive Ryan for simply sitting tight and waiting for their form to return. Something has changed recently however, and he is no longer content with putting his faith in the players to improve.

"I think we've got to take a different direction," he said. "A year ago I would've said yes we're guaranteed if we keep getting better, if we keep learning, yes this is going to end in success. We've hit the buffers a bit, and therefore some of the answers have got to be about what we're going to change.

"That's the irony of the conversation - we're at the top of the league on Sunday if we win, and everyone's calling and sharpening knives for me if we don't. That is what we've created here. We've created a side that has been moving up at such a pace that the moment we've hit buffers everyone is saying 'everybody out'."

Ryan admitted that a win on the weekend could go a long way to restore the side's confidence, but again he had words of warning for those expecting a win to be the quick-fix answer to their problems.

"Winning's great and it solves a lot of confidence and issues, but not some of the root things, it just pushes them down the line," he said. "But that's Gloucester rugby that's what it is - as I said I understand it, I accept it, and it's one of the reasons why I work here - it pushes it down the line until you lose another two games, and that's life."