Barwell says Saints won’t panic after relegation
Barwell and his fellow club directors meet today to sift through the wreckage left by a demoralising league campaign that could see Saints lose around £2 million (€2.9m) in revenue when they join the National League One ranks next season.
Appointing a director of rugby — former Wasps and Ireland boss Warren Gatland is a rumoured target — will be considered, but current head coach Paul Grayson’s job appears safe.
Saints’ fellow relegation candidates Worcester avoided the drop despite losing their first eight Premiership games, as a 22-7 victory over Saracens sealed Northampton’s fate despite Grayson seeing his team edge out London Irish 27-22.
Barwell said: “I would say to the fans I am very sorry we have let you down. When I walked around the pitch after the game, the supporters were all telling me not to worry and that they would be here next season.
“As far as rebuilding the club goes, I don’t think we will have any problems.
“Of course, I could have done better with the signings. You don’t have to be a genius to work out that if you only win six of 22 games, then obviously you have messed up along the road.
“I blame myself. I don’t wear boots and run on to the pitch, but I am the guy who picks the coaching team, so I will take responsibility for that.
“A director of rugby coming in is one of the options. Almost certainly, Paul (Grayson) will stay.
“There are lots of options, but what there won’t be is knee-jerk reactions. We need to make sure we can win National League One next season and make sure we have a good squad that can do well in the Premiership.
“The process will be a long way along the road by the end of Monday in terms of what structure we will have in place next season.”
Despite the presence of star names such as Carlos Spencer, Bruce Reihana, Ben Cohen, Mark Robinson and Tom Smith, Heineken Cup semi-finalists Northampton won just two of their last 12 Premiership matches.
Bizarrely though, they could secure an invitation to European club rugby’s blue riband tournament next season if the current Anglo-French boycott threat is carried out and RFU chiefs fill English places with League One clubs.
Barwell added: “In the Premiership, there are 12 clubs. One gets relegated every season, and it happened to us 12 years ago.
“We have done some things right, but as far as getting the team organised we haven’t got it right.
“Sometimes, we’ve had bad luck, but I am not moaning about that.
“We’ve had great coaches like Ian McGeechan, who went to Scotland, while Wayne Smith went to New Zealand. Those setbacks were not easy to take. But we don’t shy away — I stand on the ship’s bridge, so I will take the flak.”
While Northampton swap places with League One champions Leeds in the Premiership, Worcester completed a stunning escape from relegation by securing their third successive home win.
Skipper Pat Sanderson, who had already committed his future to the club next season, produced a lung-busting leader’s display, while lock Craig Gillies’ lineout mastery suggests England surely cannot leave him behind when they head for South Africa on May 15.
Sanderson said: “I don’t think two or three months ago anyone would have given us hope, apart from ourselves. We have dealt with the pressure.
“The feeling at the end was as much about relief as it was elation. We shifted the best part of nine months’ stress in one game.
“People are passionate about this club, and the potential could be huge.
“It is important we get it right on the field. Perhaps we haven’t matched the facilities and the drive from behind the scenes on the pitch, and that is something we know we have got to put right.”
Worcester’s assured performance belied any trace of nerves, and Sanderson added: “We concentrated on the process as opposed to the result. We couldn’t afford to think about what was happening at Northampton.”
Warriors rugby director John Brain said: “We were ice-cool under pressure, and all credit to the players. We had a plan, and the players really executed it.
“I am delighted for all the supporters and for (chairman) Cecil Duckworth. If we play like we did against Saracens every week, then we won’t have an issue with relegation.”
Worcester have already secured the services of All Blacks centre Sam Tuitupou next term, while Brain will focus on retaining England’s 2003 World Cup defence coach Phil Larder, who has worked in an advisory capacity at Sixways this season.
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