Redpath (left) will take the Gloucester reins from Ryan for next season © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Bryan Redpath | Dean Ryan

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Bryan Redpath has been confirmed as Gloucester's new head coach following the departure of Dean Ryan.

The exit of Ryan, the Guinness Premiership club's director of rugby, by "mutual consent" was announced this afternoon after a review of affairs by chairman Tom Walkinshaw.

And almost immediately Redpath, the former Scotland scrum-half, was promoted from Ryan's backroom staff to take charge of the first team.

"As a result of the review process, we identified several areas within the operation which could be improved," said Walkinshaw. "The most significant finding was that, following Dean Ryan's appointment as director of rugby, we did not recruit a replacement head coach and that this was a major contributing factor in the team's inconsistent performances on the pitch.

"Accordingly, we have taken immediate action to recruit a head coach for Gloucester Rugby. We did consider bringing in a new head coach from outside the club but we're looking at evolution and not revolution and feel that Bryan is absolutely the right man for the job. Bryan has been at the club now for three seasons. His playing record speaks for itself and, as a coach, he has quickly earned the respect of the playing squad and his peers.

"Bryan is extremely excited to be appointed head coach of such a big club and he will review the squad and add his own stamp in due course. He will continue to be supported by Carl Hogg and Denis Betts and I am sure you will join me in wishing him well in his new role."

Ryan had been at the club for seven years, and in charge of the first team for five, during which time the Cherry and Whites won the 2003 Powergen Cup and 2006 European Challenge Cup. However, despite boasting a squad full of high-profile stars, Premiership success has proved elusive despite them three times finishing top of the table at the end of the season.

Under Ryan they twice lost in the play-off final, while Gloucester only got past the Heineken Cup group stages once under his leadership. The last straw for Ryan and, perhaps, Walkinshaw came with April's dismal 50-12 Anglo-Welsh Cup final defeat to Cardiff Blues at Twickenham - a fourth consecutive showpiece defeat at HQ.

"This journey is coming to an end and I don't mind taking a step back to start another journey," he said at the time. "We've been successful in reaching finals, we just haven't won trophies. We must start the journey again with another group of players.

"This group isn't good enough to compete at this level. We have to accept that and it will be part of our review over the summer. We will look at taking the club in a different direction with a different group of people in the next year. We must address the problem with recruitment.

"We were sat at the top of the Premiership for two years but when it comes to finals my side is coming second best. I need to accept that and come up with plans to take us forward. I also need to see if Tom wants me to do that."

Following his month-long review, it appears Walkinshaw concluded that Ryan was not the man to take Gloucester forward. Redpath joined Ryan's staff following his retirement in 2007 following a career which included 60 international caps. He joined initially as a backs specialist before being promoted to assistant coach.