Tim Sawyer and Kevan Oliphant will still be involved but will very much take a back seat as last season's coaching understudies take the reins. Kevan says: "I have always had the belief that any coaching set up only has a certain shelf life and things inevitably need freshening up from time to time. "As well as time, family and work pressures increasing, Tim and I decided some time ago that we would take a backward step away from coaching as long as we felt the right people would be in place to continue the progress that has been made over the last few years. With Graeme Southern`s help we feel we are now in that position. "I am to continue in the DOR role but with less emphasis on coaching, acting only to support/step in for the new coaches if they are unavailable for some reason. I still intend to be at most training session and will be assisting the coaches from the touchline on Saturdays. "Main club coaching responsibilities will be with Iain Dixon (backs) and Johnny Boatman (forwards), Iain has already been coaching in and around the first team squad for a season and has proved himself more than capable in the role. He is ready now to take more responsibility. | |
| "This will be Jonnys first player/coaching role and he will have the back up of support from Tim and myself as well as his own experience and knowledge. Both have the respect of the current crop of players and I am sure they will have a positive effect on the squad." Tim Sawyer is likely to have more academic commitments next year and says:""I never had any real desire to become a coach, but once knee injuries put paid to my playing career it was something I was asked to do and in a way felt obliged to do, to pay back some of the good times and opportunities that West had offered me since I was a child starting out playing rugby. "Coaching is full on though and does impact upon other things in life and, with that in mind, I intend to take a bit of a step back from full on, front line duties. This will allow opportunities for others to come to the fore and develop as coaches and of course I will still be around the place to lend a hand and muck in with whatever team.
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"To be honest I could have taken this decision at any point in the last couple of years, but wanted to leave the playing squad in as strong a position as possible. I think that with all the help from Kevan and the other coaches we are now in a pretty strong position, and this leaves me hopeful that I can combine a few games of golf and a few bike rides with some rugby viewing throughout next season. I do still not intend to do any Saturday shopping from August to May". Les Smith, the Chairman of Rugby says: "Tim and Olly have worked remarkably hard and achieved an awful lot n the last few seasons, and I'd like to record the club's sincere thanks to them. "It's a testament to their commitment to the club that they will continue to make any contribution they can. I am sure that with this continuity, together with the enthusiasm and talent of the new coaches, the club will continue to progress." The hard working Graeme Southern will have a major role to play in the new set up. "Sos" will be taking on the co-ordination of all player availability and selection of the Stags, Bucks, and 4ths/ams. The Stags will be run by Sos aided by Anthony Cameron, Phil Wallis and Ian Peart. It is intended that the Stags will be used as a development side, so that it will include not only members of the 1st XV squad but also the younger players who aspire to first team rugby. The Bucks, will be run by a team, including Michael Siddle but also Phil Jukes and Nic Corrigan. The Bucks will be aimed at a more social side which will include some very welcome returning old faces. Chris Harrison and Steve "Elmo" Wilkinson will also be helping the organisation of the bucks/Ams to ensure we have the full four teams representing the club as often as possible.
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