There was quite a gathering too which surprised me as I thought the media were going to forget about us after losing our Premiership status. Half a dozen TV cameras we placed at the back of the journalist’s chairs pointing at the top table flanked by two large Jester emblems, behind the table in enormous letters was the strap line ‘COMMITMENT – LOYALTY – BELIEF’. 

Tony Copsey started proceeding at 1.30pm with the announcements of renewed sponsorships form NEC and CSF in particular.  NEC continues to be our title sponsors for a ‘substantial’ 6 figure sum.  CSF remains on board but at a lower level than before. There were others mentioned but they are all available to read on the press release.

The Spirit of the Stoop lives on!

Tony then went on to pay testimony to the supporters who had rallied round each other, the players and the club. Our ‘family Quins’ as he put it make it not just a rugby club, but a living entity that everyone should be immensely proud of and our relegation cannot detract from that.  As has been mentioned on CAW, there will be a Loyalty Wall built in the new West stand with the names of sponsors and fans that remained loyal to the cause. He also mentioned that there had only been a short period of mourning…This being turned around and the club made stronger with the help of ‘ComeAllWithin’ and Quinssa.

On to business. 

Tony introduced the top table.  Mark Evans as CEO, Andre Vos as Captain, and DEAN RICHARDS as Director of Rugby. 

Andre re-signed as a thank you for the support that Quins have shown him over the last few years and was an ‘honourable’ thing to do, also stating that he wants to end his career at Quins.

The floor was then opened for questions.  There were Many, many questions asked by the numerous, and in some cases terrier like journalists. Mark Evans was on form, taking no prisoners either. He refused to be drawn on the issue of staff redundancy other than stating it wouldn’t be as bad as first thought. The figure of 50 was put to him, but he said it would be lower than that and added that it was a very painful experience to have to let people go. M.E was asked what Dean’s role would be. Dean will have complete autonomy with the coaching of the team, recruitment/retention of players, and management of the playing budget. He will be assisted by John Kingston and others to be announced.  Will Greenwood and Tony Diprose will be staying at Quins as will the majority of the current squad.

Dean was very upbeat. Well as upbeat as he gets!! Very calm and answered questions very well. What he is bringing to the party is a wealth of experience at Leicester and in France. When pressed further he added that he will be bringing a different outlook to the playing side, that it will be a difficult year but one that he wants to see Quins bounce back up to the Premiership and get back to winning ways. When he was at Leicester, he always saw Quins as a sleeping giant. It is time to wake the giant and fulfil the ‘enormous potential’ that there is here. All teams in Div1 will want to beat you. How will you cope with that? ‘I played for Leicester…..everyone raised their game to play us and it’s the same for Quins being in Div1. I know how to cope with that. We have a strong side and we will succeed with the same attitude that Leicester had when he was a player.  Dean also stated that he will be playing the Academy players in next season’s campaign. There are a few who are old enough and have enough experience to play, and I will play them. Dean is looking forward to the challenge very much.

That brought the Press conference to a close and there was a media scramble to get an interview with Dean, Mark and Andre.  I left them to it and got a quick word with Tony Copsey.

Tony has been very moved by the terrific support shown by the CAW message board and Emails he’s received in the last week. The messages have helped him get through a very tough time and he thanks CAW for our support. There are a lot of fundraising ideas in the pipeline and he will keep us informed. I will be in contact with him about one or two of them.

JTD writing his first article for ComeAllWithin…..Twickenham.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes