Any more changes??
By Frank Stormont
November 30 2011
Changes have been going on at Brickfields. Are they finished? Is there more to come? Where do we go to from here?
Are we finished with the changes at Albion?
The answer in my view is both yes and no. I know that it is not a real answer to the question but I will explain.
The Albion Board has taken a stand and made changes at the top and in time for Pete Drewett to make a difference by the play-offs! This has exposed mixed views from the supporting public. Some say they don't like the way it was done, some say it is the wrong time and others applaud their moves.
What ever your views now is the time to get behind the club and support the set-up, coaches, players and Board as we move forward to the end of February when it is decided if we are fighting for survival or in the safety of the top 8.
I feel that the coaching staff are now set for the rest of the season but that we may be seeing one or two new players joining the squad.
I expect that player's contracts for next year will also be being discussed with them very soon so that players are not waiting for the call some time in May/June. Hopefully they will not be in the situation one ex player told me of phoning Plymouth to say they were on their way to sign a contract offered, they would be there in an hour, only to be informed that their services were no longer required as the club now had a cheaper alternative.
Pete has been at the club just over a week now and made a number of changes and also brought in another ex hooker, Phil Greening, and I have seen the two of them this week working with Nat to plan the "working week" day by day for the team.
Phil Greening comes to the club as a coaching consultant until the summer but it is unclear if this will last into next season. This is a man that Pete wanted on board and here he is. He comes with international experience and 24 caps for England as well as being part of a Lions tour. His coaching may be a bit limited but had done well at London Welsh taking on the main role last season before leaving to look at southern hemisphere rugby. He has plenty to offer Albion and in particularly the forwards.
Nat has had plenty of experience looking after the backs and with a man at the top who is prepared to delegate is likely to be given more say in the way things happen on the pitch.
Last Saturday against London Welsh saw a much more enjoyable match to watch and whilst we made errors it was a 21 player game of rugby for us. Maybe we did not all agree with all the replacements it certainly gave Pete the opportunity to see what we have available and what areas we need to work on.
What have we got to come?
- I think we may soon have a meeting at the club, at one of Graham Stirling's regular supporters meetings, when we will be able to listen to what Pete and the rest of the set-up have in mind. No dates yet, but surely it can't be too far away.
- I expect that there will be more investment into the club, some sooner, some needing more time and effort to complete.
- With more money coming into the club I expect we will boost up some of the those player positions where we don't have the depth of experience we need for the Championship.
- We will continue to see enjoyable matches to watch which will in turn bring more money into the club and also the possibility of more sponsors.
We must look forward now! If it were not for Graham Dawe we would probably not be in the Championship and may well not even be a rugby club. He has done an enormous amount for the club but we have to take on board that he is no longer involved and we must look forward.
Lets get those supporters back who have been drifting away over the past few seasons.
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It'ld be really nice for G.S. to call a supporters meeting a.s.a. p.
Met 2 returnees last Sat.
Needs doing asap in my book.
Always forwards never backwards!
Albi Albi Albi
Another thought - I wonder if Nigel Passmore is going to build industrial/commercial units around the Brickfields to replace the marquees and huts.