Andrew Trimble has paid tribute to Brian McLaughlin amid reports that the coach will leave Ulster at the end of the season.
Despite guiding the province to back-to-back Heineken Cup quarter-finals, McLaughlin's future at Ravenhill is unclear after reports emerged which suggested he would not be offered a contract extension beyond this season. Ulster refused to confirm the rumours other than to say that the coaching contracts were under review.
It is believed Ulster are hoping to bring in a coach from the Southern Hemisphere and while the reports have yet to be confirmed, Trimble has taken the opportunity to pay tribute to his current coach.
"I don't know who is making the decisions and what's gone on, what conversations have happened and who wants to go where," Trimble is quoted as saying in the Irish Daily Mirror.
"I don't know what Brian's plans are so I don't want to say too much about it.
"But I know that for the last couple of years I've fully enjoyed being coached by Brian. He's a guy who is very popular, very honest and very trustworthy.
"I think we've played well under him and for him, and I think that's the key because we have a lot of respect for him.
"He's popular and we like him, we all want to play well for him and that's important. And certainly he'll be missed."