Harlequins general manager Billy Millard has called for calm and continuity at the club in the absence of former boss Paul Gustard. 

Gustard left by mutual consent earlier this month and the head of rugby position will remain vacant until the end of the season with Millard set to oversee the team. 

That is despite rumoured interest in the role, but the former Cardiff Blues, Connacht, Melbourne Rebels and Australia Sevens coach has faith in the coaching staff around him to maintain the status quo and ensure standards are kept high. 

“I will be closer to the coaching group but continuing to do most of the GM roles,” Millard said. “The main change is spending more time with our four coaches in that room. 

“The four coaches – Jerry [Flannery], Adam [Jones], Nick [Evans] and Charlie Mulchrone will continue to do what they’ve been doing.  

“For example, the Wasps and Bath analysis and planning was already done. This isn’t a time to be going in there and throwing everything out and changing things. They’ve been driving this for a long time under Guzzy [Paul Gustard]. 

“I am now a support to them, to be close to them and be someone for them to bounce off. 

“They’re very capable coaches, very experienced and they’re working with the players. The players need to step up as well and have an influence on what we’re doing.” 

Millard will take charge of his first game for Quins in the Premiership fixture against Wasps on Sunday at the Ricoh Arena – a meeting of fifth versus sixth in the table. 

But he has his sights set further ahead, with the news this week that elite sports performance culture expert Owen Eastwood, Gareth Southgate’s ‘right-hand man’, has been working with the club recently on a root and branch review of all things Quins. 

He added: “Long term, everyone is taking a deep breath. Our CEO Laurie [Dalrymple] mentioned the other day about the work we’re doing with a consultant called Owen Eastwood. 

“It would be wise to wait until that piece is finished and work out what we need as a club and environment to get long term success. That will be on the drawing board in the next three to four weeks.”