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ERE Needs A New Management Team

The Old Days
By Glen Leat February 2 2008
After a pretty hectic season to date, what with the excitement of seeing our new signings raise the bar and some of our older players regaining the form of a couple of years ago, and it's time for a bit of a rest. International rugby doesn't spark my passion like Bath Rugby does, the problem is that passion often becomes obsession.

I'd describe myself as a mild-obsessive. Notwithstanding Bath Rugby I find that if I discover a new author I have to read every book they've written. If I come across a new band I have to buy every CD they've produced: my study is stacked with CDs I've either played once or never played. Instead of taking stock and catching up with the outstanding music I'll be studying the "New and Used" section of Amazon to see what else catches my eye, which is then often ignored once in my possession.

My obsession with Bath Rugby started when ERE was formed back in 1991. Yes I'd been a supporter beforehand but it was only when I had to write about "my club" regularly throughout the season I found my every waking moment consumed by Bath FC (as it was then). Converting from a magazine format to an internet site in 2000 just served to intensify this obsession. 

After living in this fashion for some 17 years I've decided to revert from obsession to an enjoyable past time. I'll be 50 towards the end of this year and want to use this milestone to make some changes in my life and this has to include the management of ERE. 

Every now and then I get the urge to walk away from ERE just so I can enjoy going to a game for the pleasure of watching our lads. The recent help I've received from Nicola Curtis has been a breath of fresh air, and the fact that she writes great reports is wonderful from my perspective. 

There is no way one person should be responsible for the creative aspects and editorial content of a site as well used as ERE for so long. I feel the site has become static under my sole management. This has led me to feel that having other editors helping to deliver ERE and adding their own ideas and style would re-invigorate things. It would also mean that I can have holidays and week-ends away without first checking how the plans fit in with rugby and, given the patience Lyn (my wife) has shown for years, I believe the only way for ERE to continue is for others to come on board and form a management team.

In the early days I used to write two or three articles a week for the site but over recent years my time has only allowed a match report and I feel that for a community site like ours we need more colour pieces which then drive the discussions on the messageboard. I think there is no co-incidence that when I reduced the articles the number of "OT" threads started to increase: I know how much these can irritate so many people.

I have to admit that earlier this week I decided I would close ERE at the end of the season and, after making that decision, felt surprisingly good. 

However after reading so many kind comments about the impact ERE has on your enjoyment of supporting Bath Rugby I wavered. I then checked January's visitor stats and discovered we had broken the 900,000 barrier (905,293) in page impressions and wavered yet again as I've always wanted to break the 1,000,000 mark. Oh, what to do?

ERE is very personal for me, having dreamt up the concept with my mate Clive all those years ago, and it's a struggle to let it go. I don't want to but things really do have to change. If we can form a management team of committed individuals I feel ERE can not only continue but actually improve. I feel I need four others to work with me. I'm happy to share the Admin Site (which is simple to operate) so everyone can access the inner-workings of ERE but I can't stress enough that anyone who volunteers is making a commitment to work on ERE for at least a 12 month period.

It's in your hands.

If you are interested in joining the new ERE Management Team please contact me by e-mail.

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