Quote: Barbed Wire "Correct about Gatcliffe. Not just the on the coaching/recruitment side but the whole business.
Bear in mind when he left we were sponsored by Fly Emirates, had just completed a successful marketing/media blitz by flying to Aus in pre-season which put us in good standing to get into the World Club competition and had a healthy crowd and season ticket base. Would routinely get event matches (cup semi finals, internationals). We were establishing ourselves as a premier club.
Now, realistically, we’re an ‘also ran’ team. I think realistically, the overriding emotion if we won the Grand Final would be shock, whereas in 2011 to 2013,14,15, 16 it was almost an expectation. What we were building under Gatcliffe and Smith has been washed away.
People will call me a hopeless romantic, but I would try and get the band back together. Bring Gatcliffe in, even in a non-executive role, to give the whole club some direction. Then try to lure Tony Smith in as a Director of Rugby. From there put all of our eggs in a young, promising head coach who has some affiliation and loyalty to the club (which realistically helps to get fans inside early doors in what would be a transitional period). I’d go Briers.'"
Just re the fly emirates sponsorship, yes it was prestigious but whilst the interim(uncle rog) let things slide, they were pulling back on sponsorship.
The flip side, we now have hoover, which financially is a bigger package than the fly emirates deal.
Dont forget gatcliffe's last sponsoship deal as he walked out the door and got the club a load of bad press.
EDIT he also made a packet for the club shop with the o'neills deal in the first year, the away shirt and the training rage and the leisure wear.