Is there an Echo??

This is a recent article that I produced for the Exeter Express and Echo which includes my predicitions for this season - I would love to hear your thoughts:

The Championship is set to revolutionise rugby at Level 2 in the English game and despite retiring I am really excited about the kick off to the season.

In theory, with the dawn of the new playoff system, this should be the most open league for quite some time but it seems that the new Championship is destined to begin under a cloud of uncertainty for a number of would be contenders.

All the news coming from the capital was that perennial under achievers London Welsh were going to come out of the shadow of the famous names of the past and mount a serious challenge for the title.

Having signed some quality performers, from this league and above, all looked rosy for the Dragons but they were plunged into administration citing the credit crunch as the cause of their problems.

Things seemed to have settled and the likes of Chris Whitehead and Michael Holford will add steel to a front row that has struggled to dominate teams in the past – but will all the off field issues come back to bite them?

It was a difficult time for the players at Nottingham last year when wages were cut and financial uncertainty was the hot topic – it will be interesting to see if the difficulties have brought the team closer together or left them worried about their future.

It is rumoured that a number of clubs are feeling the financial pinch which is only going to play into the hands of the big guns, Exeter and Bristol.

Birmingham and Solihull were promoted to the Champions as Champions of National Division Two last season but have thus far failed in their attempts to get planning permission at Sharmans Cross Road and they must be one of the favourites for the relegation play off.

Nottingham’s troubles also continue – the lack of forthcoming investment has resulted in a smaller squad and they have also been asked to leave Meadow Lane following Notts County’s takeover and the arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson.

Nottingham’s biggest concern will be in the ball carrying department having lost their three talisman in Dan Montagu (Bristol), Joe Duffey (Leicester Tigers) and more recently Tim Molenaar (Gloucester).

In season’s gone by it has been important to hit the ground running but the playoff system will change the dynamics of the year.

As we have seen in the Guinness Premiership it is all about timing and making sure that you have qualified for the later stages and hitting form at the right time.

Much of this emphasis will be placed on the Director’s of Rugby – they will need to manage their squads well and keep them fresh for the big games.

Will this be Exeter’s year?

They certainly have the squad that could win the league but it has been their ability to perform under pressure that has let them down in the past few seasons.

A change of leadership might help but more importantly they will be able to draw on the experiences from Twickenham and Billesley Common and put right what went wrong as England did in their 2003 World cup victory.

Pirates seem to have more solidity than in the past few seasons – having Gavin Cattle back will make a big difference, he is one of the best scrum halves and game generals in the league.

Can we look past Bristol for the title?

With the parachute payment and some clever signings including Montagu, Spice, Bedes and Jack Adams they will definitely be one of the favourites and with a large squad should be fresh for the play offs.

Top Eight: Bristol, Exeter, Bedford, Doncaster, London Welsh, Nottingham, Cornish Pirates,

Plymouth

Bottom Four: Birmingham and Solihull, Rotherham, Moseley, Coventry

Fortress Under Attack

The Championship seems destined to begin under a cloud of crisis as clubs come to terms with the economic downturn and ever changing sporting landscape.

At the beginning of the week it was good to hear that London Welsh would kick off the new season in the Championship thanks to a take over by Red Dragon Rugby Ltd. but as the week draws to a close another club is thrust into turmoil.

Turmoil is nothing new for Nottingham Rugby, who were one of the first clubs to announce financial difficulties last season, but the latest breaking story could potentially end professional rugby as we know it in Nottingham.

It has already been a mad week for Nottingham sport!

The appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson as Director of Football at League 2 side Notts County sent reverberations around the country - Munto Finance and the Oldest Football Club in the world mean business and nothing will stand in their way.

It now appears that will include Nottingham Rugby.

Notts County have reportedly stated that Nottingham Rugby will not be able to stage their home games at Meadow Lane this season.

This is a big issue for Nottingham Rugby, who sold their home at Ireland Avenue in 2006, and have made Meadow Lane a fortress in recent years.

The impressive stadium is a big draw card for the club in terms of players, sponsors, match day hospitality and, perhaps most importantly, profile in what is already a cluttered sporting environment in Nottingham - without it I fear that the club will have to change substantially.

I have no doubt there will always be a Nottingham Rugby Club but without Meadow Lane, and a lack of other enticing options, it is hard to see how they will be able to continue with the model and budgets that they will have set at the start of the year.

Having come through a difficult time last year this is another testing time for the players and staff, who stayed loyal despite the issues last season, and as the Chairman, Geoff Huckstep, states this could signal the end of professional rugby in Nottingham in its present state.

A legal battle seems unlikely considering the rugby clubs financial situation and the fact that Notts County are reportedly paying Sven £2m a year.

The partnership was started because both parties had something to offer, Notts had a stadium and Nottingham Rugby paid them to use it in times of financial need.

Money is no object for the football club anymore and they will want the best playing surface possible for Sven and the new signings - sixteen games of rugby would certainly take its toll.

They always say that the biggest threat to a Fortress is from the inside - let's hope that there is a plan B.