Quote Wires71="Wires71"What changes would you make?'"
If that’s an open question, I would have a shot at that.
I think the team lacks robust leadership at the top, and with Karl being the boards pet project, I can’t see him being forced out. As a brand and a business it seems to do ok, but the team is harming his by it’s lack of success. So, I’d bring in a Director of Rugby. Someone to set the tone and vision for the rugby aspect, how the teams are to play (style wise) and embed that throughout the academy, so when the progression comes through from youth they know the ‘role’ inside out. This would also build a blue print for the types of coaches and players you want to recruit. Less of a scatter gun approach, more targeted, should bring a better yield with less misfits.
I think, realistically, Powell is a lame duck. Sheridan, who we’ve been told is leading on defence, isn’t working out either and we appear unfit and suspect to switching off at the back end of games. So I’d clean house. The new DoR bring in a coach to match the ethos and surround that coach with credible candidates who would succeed when the time comes.
From there there needs to be a dialog with the fans. The fans need to be clearly told what the project is and what that is going to look like. They can get in touch with us quite quickly when it’s season ticket renewal period, so an open letter wouldn’t be unrealistic. If we are told that we need to clear the decks and start again and are going to blood the reserves in that period, therefore we’re going to have some uncomfortable days, I think fans would be more tolerant to poor results (subject to those you want out not taking the place of a local junior with promise).
At the heart of this though, there has to be a link between the business, the team and the town. If you have buy in from the town (fans, sponsors etc) you can use that energy for good, more kids play, more people attend, more merchandise sold, more money in the bank. With that in mind, I’d go for someone with a link to the club, who understands the people, in leadership positions. If Tony Smith would consider DoR I would start there (maybe it’s rose coloured glasses on my part).
