WARATAHS attacking coach Todd Louden has revealed he was offered the top NSW coaching job and a six-figure salary as part of a succession plan that he believed had Ewen McKenzie's blessing.

The Herald can reveal Louden was privately courted for more than six months until as late as last week by NSW officials in a draining and protracted process. From October to the end of April he went from being the leading candidate to one of two then one of four. Louden felt so disillusioned by the ordeal that he finally decided to leave Australia to coach in Japan.

When it was announced on April 1 that McKenzie's contract would not be renewed after this year, the ferocity of the backroom politics was revealed and Louden found himself in the middle.

The NSWRU rugby committee of chairman Arvid Petersen, chief executive Jim L'Estrange and board member Ed Zemancheff that was set up to handle the search for a replacement has continually defended the way it handled the issue. However, the Louden story casts the process in a very different light.

"I was offered the job and to this day I still don't know why they went back on that," he said last night.

Nevertheless, after the offer was made it is apparent that affairs became untenable for Louden. He became so disillusioned with the rugby committee and its process to appoint a coach he felt he was forced into leaving NSW to take up his new coaching job with Ricoh in Japan, despite wanting to stay and having one year on his contract. Louden, who flew to Japan last night, is also adamant that he and McKenzie became pawns in a political game.

"Ewen and I were played off each other early in the process. We both realise that was the case," Louden said. "I haven't said too much because I have been focused on the team and their goals. I am disappointed though with how some of the candidates have distracted the team from their Super 14 winning goal through constant media application. The rugby committee have a lot to answer to that.

"I would loved to have stayed and continue the development of the team that has come a long way. I have really enjoyed working with the senior members. Seeing Phil Waugh develop into into one of the best captains I have ever worked with, Dan Vickerman evolve his game to the extent that he has - I feel he still has a lot left to give - and Lote Tuqiri's improved play and transformation into a leader has been quite phenomenal.

"The NSWRU have a big responsibility. I hope they get it right. Moving 'Link' [McKenzie] on is detrimental in terms of the intellectual property he has. At the very least they should have him in as a director of rugby."

According to sources, after McKenzie declared his candidacy for the Wallabies job last October, Louden was led to believe L'Estrange felt he was suited for the Waratahs position should it become vacant for 2009. Even after McKenzie's Wallabies application failed, it is understood Louden was reassured of his prospects by L'Estrange in January.

At the same time reports surfaced that a NSW board member had asked Michael Cheika in England for his interest in the NSW job and that Scott Johnson was hovering. It is believed Louden was told then - and again in another meeting on

March 5 - that he had "nothing to worry about". It is also understood he was told that he was so safe he should "go and have another baby or buy another house".

By this stage McKenzie had put his hand up for the ARU high performance job. At a third meeting with L'Estrange, on March 10, Louden was encouraged to "hold off" on overseas offers and asked to meet the NSW rugby committee and a Sydney-based recruitment firm to access his suitability.

Sources say Louden's manager then met L'Estrange on March 20, after which Louden understood that he would be one of two candidates for the role, and that he should start planning a coaching structure and staff.

Louden's manager met L'Estrange a week later at Fox Studios in Moore Park, where a package was negotiated that included a $235,000-$250,000 annual salary and a car.

Two days later, on March 27, Louden met L'Estrange at the Clock Hotel in Surry Hills and was told that he was the first-choice candidate, but an offer would not be official until after McKenzie's fate had been announced. Critically, Louden was also led to believe that McKenzie knew about their talks. That was until he received an anonymous phone call on March 30 telling him that McKenzie would be let go immediately and that Louden would be made interim coach. Louden was shocked by the call and responded by telling the caller that it was a "gutless" act.

He also told the caller that McKenzie should not be let go, and if he was, then he would walk with him. He reported the call to L'Estrange and discussed it with McKenzie. On April 1 McKenzie was told his contract would not be renewed.

Louden was mortified to hear from sources that he had supposedly worked behind McKenzie's back. He also heard from a board member that the NSWRU rugby committee's process, which he had gone through for the coaching role, had not even been endorsed by the NSWRU board and was thus not bona fide.

On April 4, Louden approached L'Estrange to withdraw his candidacy, claiming there were too many unresolved issues. However serious they were, L'Estrange survived the April 7 NSW board meeting with official support.

But scrutiny on the saga continued, despite Louden and McKenzie privately clearing any issues before McKenzie flew to Paris for an interview with Stade Francais after NSW's win over the Force in Perth.

Louden was then approached several times to reconsider his position by L'Estrange, who was given until Sunday, April 20 to inform him if was considered a strong chance, and if so that he should be interviewed that week.

Sunday arrived and at 7.15pm L'Estrange sent him a message saying he was now one of four candidates. By that hour Louden had verbally accepted Ricoh's offer, despite preferring to stay in Australia as his wife was pregnant and his parents ill. L'Estrange tried to change Louden's mind. But the effort was in vain. Meanwhile, as the Waratahs charged towards a home semi-final against the Sharks, on May 24, the coaching issue continued to deflect attention from the team as the list of candidates grew by the day.

Despite Chris Hickey's favouritism, Louden was again asked to reconsider. Louden says the last approach to stay came as late as last Monday morning, two days before NSW left for Christchurch for the Super 14 final.

It has emerged many players wanted Louden to stay. But their push with the NSW rugby committee ended last Tuesday, reportedly exasperated their voice was not carrying weight.