Hockey News: The search for a new senior coach for the Irish men's hockey team has begun.

The under-21 side failed to beat Scotland in their final match in Belgium and ended the European Championships with the wooden spoon.

According to the advertisement on the IHA website, "The coach will also be involved in (implementing) the Development Policy of International Players."

His or her job will begin - it is hoped in September - with trying to lift the under-21 side out of Division B in Europe and trying to find a formula that can work for a nation with limited resources.

Spain, incidently, beat Germany in the final in Belgium.

For a nation with fewer players than Ireland, the Spanish are doing extremely well, consistently competing for honours in major international events.

How do they do it?

For the record, Scotland, like Poland in the first crossover match, beat Ireland with a golden goal, Timothy Cockram, Mark Gleghorn and Steven Redpath knocking in the Irish goals before losing in extra time.

It was a disappointing end given that Ireland began the tournament brightly and gave England a run for their money in the second match.

But England too will have gone home unhappy as they finished fourth, Holland claiming the bronze and Germany the silver medals.

The Irish under-21 women finished on a higher note at Belfield by earning their first win of the week against France and thus avoiding the wooden spoon.

Goals from Nikki Keegan and Sarah Wilkinson were enough to secure a 2-1 win over a poor French side.

In Dublin, however, the status quo remained as the two heavyweight countries met in the final, Holland beating Germany after extra time failed to break the deadlock and the match went to penalties.

Holland finally secured the title 6-5 on strokes.

So no World Cups next year for the Irish and the senior men anxious to get out of European B level in next summer's championships in Rome.

That alone suggests a significant workload for the new national coach when he or she is appointed in September.