The SSSC January social at Heywood Road was very much a night of two halves, addressing matters on the pitch with the Sale Sharks coaching team of Steve Diamond, Bryan Redpath and Pete Anglesea, followed, after a short break by matters off the pitch with new Sale Sharks Chairman Gordon Mckie and Steve Diamond. The evening kicked off with our coaching team providing good insight into the playing side. Disappointingly they confirmed press rumors that Rob Miller would leave at the end of the season. The club had tried to keep Rob, along with Henry Thomas and James Gaskell but now the decisions had been taken there was no point crying over split milk and plans were taking shape to replace them. There was no need for a new fullback as the club had talent in that area with Tom Arscott, Mike Haley and Will Addison (whos future they believe is at 15). Nathan Fowles was a massive prospect but realistically still a season away from 1st choice so the club was in the market for a proven number 9- however, so were many other clubs. Jammas position would be taken by Michael Paterson, who favored playing 6 and 8, with Nathan Hines having been brought in to take Michaels lock position. The club would replace Henry Thomas with a proven prop, but not necessarily like for like as Eifion Lewis Roberts was willing and able to swap sides. Dimes stressed that Rob, Henry and Jamma had made it clear that they would give 100% to the Sale cause until the end of the season. Positively the coaches quashed recent press reports that star player Danny Cipriani may move to Gloucester in the summer by confirming he was contracted to Sale for next season and that the player himself had shown no indication that he wanted to leave. New Sale Sharks Chairman Gordon Mckie introduced himself to supporters. He stressed from the outset that he intended to listen to and work with supporters. He explained that his position would be part time but stressed that he was a hands on sort of a guy and in practise would devote as much time as was needed to the club. He was quite clear that the current situation at the stadium was not working and showed that, despite only 2 weeks in the job, he already had a clear understanding of the problems. He had already spoken to stadium stakeholders Peel Holdings and Salford Council and his message to them had been clear- make it work for us, make this soon or else the club would not remain at the stadium. Gordon confirmed that although he had a good picture from advisers at the club such as Dave Swanton, he taken the time at the last home match to visit all sides of the stadium before, during and after the match to see first hand for himself. He had seen in operation the car parking, stewarding, turnstiles, catering outlets and fans bar and his conclusion was that the current match day experience was not acceptable. In his words his role would be to crack a couple of eggs in order to make an omelette. The message from the evening was clear. Sale now have a strongman at the helm who understands the problems, knows the solutions and who to speak to to achieve them but that if the other stake holders do not respond the club will not stay. It had been a fascinating insight into the club for over 100 supporters in attendance. Thanks to those who came! SSSC
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 10:24:22 +0000
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