Northampton Saints
News: Mallinder signs new contract with the Saints
By ComeOnYouSaints.com
May 17 2012
Northampton Saints today announced that director of rugby Jim Mallinder has signed a new contract with the club, which will extend his tenure at Franklin’s Gardens until at least 2015.
In just five short years Mallinder has taken the Saints from the pain of relegation to being considered one of the top clubs in Aviva Premiership Rugby and in the Heineken Cup.
Indeed the club has not enjoyed such consistent levels of success – four trophies; five finals in five years, including the 2011 Heineken Cup final; and three successive Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-finals – since the 1950s and 60s.
Individuals have also flourished under the Yorkshireman’s guidance, with a modern-day record of eight players chosen in England’s 2012 Six Nations Elite Player Squad and no fewer than six England regulars having made their international debut since joining the club.
Mallinder has also rejuvenated the Saints Academy, appointing Dusty Hare to manage a production line which is now providing the first team squad with a steady stream of exciting young and talented players.
Already Aviva Premiership Rugby’s longest-serving current director of rugby, by the end of his new contract Mallinder will have been in charge of the team at Franklin’s Gardens for eight years, stability which chairman Leon Barwell says is vitally important for the continued growth and development of the club.
“Jim signing his new contract is terrific news for the club and underpins our aspirations for the future,” he said. “As we see so often in sports across the world having continuity of management is crucial in a club’s long-term success, and this is exactly what Jim brings to the Saints.
“You cannot overstate how important he has been to the rejuvenation of the team, which then has a massive part to play in everything else we do at the club. He is a first class coach, one of the best in England, and a terrific guy to have at the club.
“Like everyone at Franklin’s Gardens I am delighted that Jim has extended his commitment to the club until at least 2015, and I’m sure that Saints supporters everywhere are looking forward to the team continue to flourish under his leadership.”
Mallinder said that signing his contract extension had been a straightforward decision for him.
“I’m very happy at Northampton Saints,” he said. “We also have a talented group of coaches and support staff which is among the best in the league. We all want the club to improve year on year and are committed to working together to achieve that.
“We have come a long way in a short period of time, but I know that there is more to come in the future. We have won silverware and played in some massive occasions, and this is where I know we can compete year in, year out, and regularly bring major trophies to the club.
“The fact that my family is settled and happy in the area also played a major part in my decision to sign again. We all feel very at home in the Northampton area and feel a part of the community here.
“I’m proud to be director of rugby of the Saints, which has a great history and fantastic supporters, and I’m looking forward to bringing more success to the club in the future.”
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Stumbleupon17/05/2012 12:07
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You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
Good news though.
COME ON YOU SAINTS!
But good to see Big Jim committing to Saints. We need stability in all areas and can only kick on from here.
Recruiting top quality replacements for Rog and Jimmy D is the main priority now.
Talking of stability, look at the Ins and Outs thread. Not much movement up at Welford Rd.
Quote:Stockers
Lets see what the trickle effect is now in terms of new players and changes to the coaching team.....if any.
You think some more might leave now?
Who would sign for a club knowing that the coach who signed you could be off in the next 12 months...not a lot of faith in that deal.
Now he has publically told the world he is here to stay for the next 3 years that is a template to sign players and give confidence that if the player wants to develop under Mallinder, he isn't going anywhere.
Quote:choppaQuote:Stockers
Lets see what the trickle effect is now in terms of new players and changes to the coaching team.....if any.
You think some more might leave now?
No, quite the opposite.
Maybe there is going to be a bit of a shift around soon - believe Doreen extended at the same time as Jim last time (ie to end of next season)...
As much as we might not have won the big AP prize yet, I'd rather be in our position that some other clubs.
We are consistantly reaching finals (which alone breeds opportunities) and not a lot of clubs can say they reach finals regularily! Ok some clubs can say they did and went further...but thats doesn't always count for attracting new and resigning players.
If you want to look at the culture of a club look at the resignings, they are the ones that show you how good a club is and how much they enjoy playing for the coach. Wislon and Downey wanted to go home for various reasons but none were because of the Saints or anyone there. Ashton appears to have been mis-guided and only time will tell if he really had his heart in the move or was it just because he could through the ball around with his best mate...thats if he gets the ball.
I wouldn't expect the signings to be something that comes with bells and whistles, thats not Mallinder's style...he may sign a big player but it will be the right one. MOstly Mallinder has signed players with promise and players that fit the mould.
Before we signed Pisi, no one had heard of him and in less than a season he became a revelation...It's about finding them little gems out there that can be plucked and slotted into the style that Saints want to play.
Quote:Stockers
Recruiting top quality replacements for Rog and Jimmy D is the main priority now.
Don't think there will be a 'big name' replacement for Roger Wilson, think they have decided they have the forwards squad for next year, the more knowledgeable on here will of course disagree.
A 12 and a couple of back 3 players and that will be it I suspect.
Of course my source may be wrong, but I think not.
Quote:JazzmanQuote:Stockers
Recruiting top quality replacements for Rog and Jimmy D is the main priority now.
Don't think there will be a 'big name' replacement for Roger Wilson, think they have decided they have the forwards squad for next year, the more knowledgeable on here will of course disagree.
A 12 and a couple of back 3 players and that will be it I suspect.
Of course my source may be wrong, but I think not.
Reckon you're right Jazzman. I do hope there will be at least one bigger name to get excited about though.
Have you forgotten we signed the Sarfie No. 8? Ok he's not as well known as Wilson...but to be fair nor was he in these parts till he arrived.
I doubt we will have any big signings really.
Quote:choppa
Of course, that may put off any players that actually want to win something.
Here we go again. Perhaps Choppa and those with this point of view would care to read the announcement again and make a note of the things that Saints have won under Mallinder and compare it to the years before he came.
Then they will say well what about the "big ones" echoing my favourite pundits. Well I regard some of what we have won as pretty big. But if you mean the league and the HC perhaps you would like to tell us how many different clubs have won the league since Saints were back in the prem. Then perhaps you would like to tell us how many premiership clubs have won the HC since Saints have been back in contention under Mallinder.
Three semis in one and a final in the other can be improved on. I hope we do. But its none too shabby a record when compared to the competition. Is focussing on what has been achieved rather than what hasn't too radical for you.
Saint til I die
Quote:... the more knowledgeable...
Get a new record, or a second chip for the other shoulder. Please.
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."
-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.
Quote:DT
Have you forgotten we signed the Sarfie No. 8? Ok he's not as well known as Wilson...but to be fair nor was he in these parts till he arrived.
David, no I hadn't I was including him in the 'done deal' for the forwards. I do emphasis that this is what I have been told, but in this ever changing world who knows?
Quote:Paul Flatt
Get a new record, or a second chip for the other shoulder. Please.
A@se
I for one am really looking forward to young GJ Van Velze showing us his stuff, looks like a really exciting prospect. I also get the sense that Samu Manoa may see his future more in the back row rather than the 2nd after some sterling performances in that role this season.
Top!
"sup·port·er"
Noun:
1.A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy).
2.A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team.
Quote:a@se
That may be the case. It may not. But frankly, persistent postings such as this one, quoted more fully this time -
Quote:they have decided they have the forwards squad for next year, the more knowledgeable on here will of course disagree.
- are just gratuitously offensive to other posters who contribute here and may (or not) disagree with your opinion which is not better or worse.
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."
-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.
We've just finished our season (with a measure of disappointment too), the ST renewals have just started plopping onto doormats, do people expect to have any new signings news given out today?
I'd expect it to be nearer the end of ST renewal period (especially if it's a "name" player) to keep the interest levels up.
Good contract for jim, a club with support, a trophyless second season, full salary cap and money to play with and a long deal. Considering England ended their interst, he was surely never going to go anywhere anyway. Personally, I think he has a point to prove and needs to win something so I am a bit curious about the length of the deal. Don't get me wrong I like jim he has done so well for us and will continue to do so it's just a bit underwhelming......
Quote:Paul FlattQuote:a@se
Interesting that you use the less well-known Norwegian form of the word. Myself, I prefer the rather more succinct Swedish års, or even the rather eclectic Faeroese version ærse. Still, each to his own.
Quote:Why is Barnes at Leicester and Owens at Munster then?Sarge
No Phil, he's a refereee so we can't sign him!
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