Ulster's season on the pitch has turned around since the Six Nations and that was epitomised by their win over Leinster at home last weekend. Richie Murphy has steadied the ship as Ulster went from potentially finishing outside of the playoff places to securing a place in the Top 8 with a game to spare .
The same can not be said for their off-field activity. The purse strings have firmly been tightened in Belfast which has seen the departures of key players like Billy Burns and Will Addison while marquee signing Steven Kitshoff is returning to South Africa less than a year after joining Ulster on a three-year deal. No direct replacements have come in for those players as it looks like Ulster may have to turn to its youth players.
Ulster's divisive CEO John Petrie left the club in April, mere months before his contract was set to expire as it looks like Ulster are set to miss out on more potential revenue next season.
Report: Ulster Agree Discounted Kit Deal After Late Withdrawal
In a report by Adam McKendry of the Belfast Telegraph, Ulster are set to announce a new kit deal with English suppliers Castore ahead of next season after a last-second deal was agreed. The province were initially reported to have a deal lined up with Kappa which would see them replace suppliers Kukri as the main kit makers.
However the Italian brand pulled out of the deal and Ulster were left stranded without anyone just a couple months before their current deal with Kukri expires. That's when Castore, who make Leinster's kit currently, reportedly came in with a cut-price deal which Ulster had to accept to assure they'll have some revenue next season.
It's yet another financial blow for Ulster whose longterm stadium sponsorship deal with Kingspan only renewed for one season last January.
It may look doom and gloom on the outside but reaching the Champions Cup next season should hopefully steer Ulster in the right direction financially while they now have a solid coach in Richie Murphy. We all know the wonders Murphy did with the Ireland U20s and if Ulster have to look to their youth players next season there's no better man to get the best out of them.
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