By BrianC
February 15 2005

This article was penned last week, before the announcement of Paul Sackey's departure and the abysmal press release accompanying it. After writing it I was unsure if I should publish such a negative article. In the light of this weeks events, those doubts have evaporated.

Three short seasons ago, in the upper ranks of the Zurich Premiership and with the Powergen Cup in our trophy room, it was the stated aim of our then Director of Rugby, Brendan Venter, to leave London Irish as one of the top club rugby sides in the world. At the time many of us believed this was possible.

Our near disastrous 02/03 season, where we avoided relegation only on the last day put paid to that, at least in the short term. With a 43% increase in crowd numbers and an atmosphere emerging at the Madejski there were however enough grounds for optimism in that financial stability beckoned.

The financial break-even was achieved in the 03/04 season. Given the previous traumas of our move from Sunbury and the Stoop this in itself was quite an achievement. We had the two highest ZP crowds of the season, both in excess of 20k.Whilst the season on-field could best be described as mediocre, finishing eighth thus missing out on Heineken Cup qualification, there were still enough grounds for optimism.

At the start of this season it was proudly announced that we had, for the first time, spent up to the salary cap on players. There were some high profile signings in the bag. Our stated aim was to finish this season in the top three. Heineken Cup qualification was seen as the minimum acceptable outcome.

The season started well enough but has seriously come off the rails since December. Having had a dismal run of results since then we now find ourselves in our second relegation dogfight in three seasons. Given our recent run of form many are now tipping us for the drop. Coincidence or not our Director of Rugby announced his resignation that month. He is leaving us shortly with no sign yet of a replacement. Further there are rumors in the rugby press about our coach moving back to South Africa. The only bright spot at the moment is the impending Powergen semi-final.

Off field things are little better. Our crowds are by and large static despite the fact there were little or no ticket price increases this season. This against a backdrop of overall Zurich Premiership crowds 20% up in the wake of England's World Cup victory.

In this authors years of supporting our club I cannot recall any period where such a general feeling of despondency and gloom has prevailed. Whilst I attempt to remain positive it is evident that things are not working as they should. These are worrying times indeed. The very survival of our club in the top flight of English club rugby is at risk.

It's all very well to shout 'Sack the coach, sack the management' as some are doing. Whilst this may satisfy, for a time at least, the bloodlust of some it could easily create more problems than it solves. Not least there is the fact that willing, affordable, capable and available replacements are thin on the ground.

How did we find ourselves in this hole? More importantly, how do we set about digging ourselves out of it? Some leadership is required, that appears to be something we are in very short supply of at the moment.