Shelford speculation mounts

By Jason Harris (filed 3/6/03)
June 3 2003

There is fresh speculation surrounding the future of Saracens Head Coach Wayne Shelford. Even before Sarries' injury time heartbreak in the Wildcard Final, the former All Black's days were, according to some press reports, numbered.

Follwing articles in the weekend's newspapers stating that Shelford would be on his way, further evidence has come to light that may suggest that he has already left the club.

Saracens were consipcuous by their absense from a summit meeting between the RFU refereeing panel headed by Ed Morrison and the coaches of the Zurich Premiership clubs that took place on Monday and Tuesday, fuelling further suggestions that the non-arrival of a Sarries delegation was due to the fact that they now had nobody to send.

Further rumours to come out of the meeting surrounded the signing of Alex Codling from NEC Harlequins. According to an inside source, the England lock allegedly put pen to paper and requested a release from his Quins contract only after he received assurances that Shelford would not be at the club next season.

Pressure on Shelford has mounted in recent months after criticisim from fans of his selection policy and his public criticism of his players and the English game as a whole.

Futhermore, the players themselves were reportedly unhappy with the coaching set-up with Kyran Bracken's now infamous "Pot, kettle, black" comment about Shelford's modus operandum on Sky television being interpreted by many who watched as a sign that all was not well at Saracens.

A club spokesman dismissed Bracken's remarks at the time as "tongue in cheek", but as events have unfolded since that evening they seem more and more indicative of what really has gone on. What some see as proof of this came in a recent David Flatman interview in the Bath Chronicle pulled no punches as Flatman told them "I had, in fact, told Sarries quite clearly I was leaving because I wasn't happy with the level of coaching I was getting there."


The final item of news that does not bode well for Shelford is Saracens' alleged pursuit of ACT Brumbies academy coach Laurie Fisher, who will be in the UK shortly with Australia's under 21 World Cup squad. There have been reports that CEO and former ACT Chief Mark Sinderberry could well bring a second former colleague of his to the club after ex-Brumbies centre Rod Kafer arrived after a spell with Leiceter Tigers.

Shelford's potential demise may also see the release of the entire coaching staff, according to some sources. Assistant coaches Darrell Shelford and Tim Wright and also fitness coach Pat Fox could all be joining their boss looking for work before the start of the 2003/04 season.