Rebels coach asked to re-apply

Embattled Melbourne Rebels coach Damien Hill has been asked to re-apply for his Super Rugby position with his contract up at the end of the season - but he's no certainty to do so.

Sweeping changes are afoot at the struggling club with the resignation on Monday of chief executive Steve Boland, who will finish up at the end of the month after 18 months in the role following his elevation from deputy CEO.

The club also confirmed the signing of former Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess while retired Rebels and Test halfback Sam Cordingley was appointed to a newly-created role of rugby general manager.

The Rebels have only won two matches from eight so far this season; missing their third last weekend in heartbreaking fashion thanks to a drop goal after the siren by the Southern Kings.

They have also had off-field strife resulting in the indefinite suspension of Wallabies five-eighth Kurtley Beale.

In 2012, Hill's first year as head coach, they won four games to finish 13th overall.

While Hill said he had the desire to continue the journey in Melbourne, he was yet to make a final decision on his future.

It is believed Hill is waiting to see how the handover of the Rebels ownership by major shareholder, media buyer Harold Mitchell, to the Australian Rugby Union plays out.

"The players and the whole organisation have worked very hard to date and there's a lot more to do," Hill told AAP.

"We lost around 700 caps of combined Super and Test rugby with the roster changes for this year so we knew there were going to be challenges.

"However we're injecting youth for the long-term development of the club.

"We continue to build in certain areas but we let ourselves down in others and that's why the performances aren't leading to those wins.

"Some of that has to do with experience, some with working harder with our core skills and decision making."

He was philosophical about his contract not being automatically extended.

"It's best for the business that they test the market; it's just the way of business," Hill said.

"The results at the moment, while we've had a lot of change in the playing ranks, we're only two from eight.

"We could very easily be four from eight but the reality is that we're not, so there's pressure on everybody."

Hill will remain in control of the Rebels for their remaining nine games, starting with the daunting task of taking on the Crusaders in Christchurch following a bye weekend.

"We've just got to make sure we manage the process the best we can, that the distraction is minimal because the focus of the team remains unified," Hill said.
The club intends to advertise the head coach position within Australian and internationally while they are yet to finalise an interim replacement for Boland.