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#Post#: 147427--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: Yareet
Date: January 6, 2026, 10:54 am
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--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> there aren't too many examples of coaches who stick with one
club for a long time having already won top level trophies as a
coach elsewhere.
>
> It's also about someone who can set a consistent culture over
the years (Pat Lam did a good interview on this recently for one
of the antipodean pods - GBRANZ or DSPN, I think - his
relationship with Steve Lansdown is based on establishing the
right culture)
>
--- End Quote ---
Sorry to be a nause, P4, but you left that goal open 😂
#Post#: 147429--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: January 6, 2026, 11:32 am
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--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> Is he ready to make the step up to a Prem club? I don't think
we as fans can know, but he's regarded by the pundits as a
fairly hot property and he is someone who has a good combination
of knowing the Quins style of play while also being a pretty
hard nosed player.
>
--- End Quote ---
Are there pundits apart from the dreadful journalist who thinks
Easter is his friend who consider him a hot property?
#Post#: 147431--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: Dittonquin
Date: January 6, 2026, 11:38 am
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--- Quote from: Scooter link ---
>
> The BBC Rugby podcast spends a long time discussing Quins and
what is wrong. At last some questions are being asked about the
underperforming Quins academy and Ashton recalls that he never
felt Quins were a serious aspirational team when he was there.
Ugo chips in with his usual waffle but it is well worth
listening to.
>
--- End Quote ---
I know some people will be down on him but I thought Ashton's
comments were quite telling. Supports what FatQuin said above
about Quins being Fancy Dan's who will win the occasional trophy
rather than wanting to be a serious, consistently competitive
team. Laurie admits the club is more player-led than others. And
the two times when results have really fallen off a cliff
recently are when Gustard tried to bring in his wolfpack
approach and the current situation where we've tried to focus
more on defence. Laurie pretty much said on the pod that this
was a mistake and we need to get back to focussing on attack.
That might keep the players happy and mean we get back to
throwing in some exciting wins in between the tonkings, but is
that all we really aspire to? You get the sense that the players
want to be attack-minded and play their own brand of rugby but
are less keen on coaches wanting them to do the hard yards or
grinding out wins. A bit like the England batsmen not being
prepared to reign it in and knuckle down when the situation
requires it.
Can we really expect to recruit a high profile DoR/Head Coach
unless they feel they can run things their own way rather than
having to come into line with a player-driven focus on attack
which is supported by management?
Can we expect retention to improve if we continue to be
perceived as a club without serious aspirations?
I know lots of fans are happy as long as we play entertaining
rugby and are reasonably competitive. I just feel the club has
such a strong position off the pitch that it's a massive shame
if it doesn't aspire to achieve more. With the exception of last
year's blip, Northampton have put together a great run of
seasons blending exciting attack with consistent performances.
There's no reason why we can't do the same (the result against
Sarries was a good example of us not winning in the typical
Quins way) but it does feel to me like there needs to be a
culture shift. If the club aren't serious about its aspirations
then personally I feel like I'll adopt the same approach, give
up the ST and just turn up to a couple of home games and the
annual away trip for fun.
#Post#: 147432--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: January 6, 2026, 12:03 pm
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--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> Are there pundits apart from the dreadful journalist who
thinks Easter is his friend who consider him a hot property?
>
--- End Quote ---
I live next door to Ealing trailfinders and watched them
against Chinnor in October, Trailfinders won 55-7, Chinnor have
also lost against Richmond and Hartpury and Nottingham, he is
being built up for beating the Cornish Pirates, who have been in
decline for a couple of years, and Worcester who have a very
thin squad, and look like they may have money troubles again, as
they did not apply for promotion.
Chinnor have the 3rd best attendance figures in the Champ, so
are not really the underdogs they are being portrayed as, they
play Ealing at home on the 23rd.
#Post#: 147433--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: January 6, 2026, 12:11 pm
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--- Quote from: Rugbycat link ---
>
> I live next door to Ealing trailfinders and watched them
against Chinnor in October, Trailfinders won 55-7, Chinnor have
also lost against Richmond and Hartpury and Nottingham, he is
being built up for beating the Cornish Pirates, who have been in
decline for a couple of years, and Worcester who have a very
thin squad, and look like they may have money troubles again, as
they did not apply for promotion.
>
> Chinnor have the 3rd best attendance figures in the Champ, so
are not really the underdogs they are being portrayed as, they
play Ealing at home on the 23rd.
>
--- End Quote ---
I’m originally a Greenford lad believe it or not!
I don’t think the club are going to rush into a decision, but I
still think there needs to be an interim (similar to Fletcher at
Utd who’s only there till the summer)
The club know if they get this wrong it’s going to cause maybe
irreparable damage. The main risk is people just lose faith and
interest in a team as mentioned not up for genuinely a full
campaign. Season tickets will probably be fine, but our big
revenue games will be a harder sell…certainly the BSKO which I
think already this year is going to be interesting sales wise
#Post#: 147435--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: mrpj1985
Date: January 6, 2026, 12:35 pm
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--- Quote from: MaidstoneQuin link ---
>
> I’m originally a Greenford lad believe it or not!
>
> I don’t think the club are going to rush into a decision, but
I still think there needs to be an interim (similar to Fletcher
at Utd who’s only there till the summer)
>
> The club know if they get this wrong it’s going to cause maybe
irreparable damage. The main risk is people just lose faith and
interest in a team as mentioned not up for genuinely a full
campaign. Season tickets will probably be fine, but our big
revenue games will be a harder sell…certainly the BSKO which I
think already this year is going to be interesting sales wise
>
--- End Quote ---
Think Laurie mentioned that The Big Game had undersold this year
(which I know had been modelled because of pre vs post
Christmas) but that's another indicator (Just as the lower than
expected sales for the Big Summer was with Gloucester after the
Leinster debacle.)
I think there were positives and negatives from the
conversation.
I think the obvious positives were the fronting up to a major
media organ and not putting out the coaching staff to do what is
his job.
Thought his answers were clear and revelatory to some questions.
One of the negatives were the obvious confirmation around
muddled thinking due to Head Coach turnover.
Yes, we've had multiple head coaches (not a good thing I know!),
but Millard was there from 2018 until last summer in a rugby
leadership role. Ed Spokes has been head of recruitment since
2016.
So there has been some consistency there. It's just that their
tenures only produced 2 quality seasons in that time.
I'm not surprised we spend to the cap, even allowing for the
obvious frustrations we all feel with the squad -
- We're based in the South East of England.
- We've held on to older players, who typically demand more than
younger ones given experience, time of life etc.
- I think someone said that a sportsman is at his most expensive
if they can get to 31 and we have more of those than we probably
should
I know we've got the transfer targets thread, so will keep my
opinions on recruitment profiles there.
#Post#: 147437--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: January 6, 2026, 12:40 pm
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--- Quote from: MaidstoneQuin link ---
>
> I’m originally a Greenford lad believe it or not!
>
> I don’t think the club are going to rush into a decision, but
I still think there needs to be an interim (similar to Fletcher
at Utd who’s only there till the summer)
>
> The club know if they get this wrong it’s going to cause maybe
irreparable damage. The main risk is people just lose faith and
interest in a team as mentioned not up for genuinely a full
campaign. Season tickets will probably be fine, but our big
revenue games will be a harder sell…certainly the BSKO which I
think already this year is going to be interesting sales wise
>
--- End Quote ---
Greenford is a couple of miles up the road, I live according to
the local estate agents in Scotch common, good if you already
own the house bad if you don't, bought it back when i was in the
Royal marines, when trailfinders ground was GWR sports club, but
brought up in Ealing common, my school playing field became
Wasps training ground, played rugby at Richmond mini's and up
and for the Royal navy.
But back to rugby, and yes if our senior coach is shown the
door. it will be caretaker.
#Post#: 147438--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: SiB
Date: January 6, 2026, 2:18 pm
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Thought the rugby union weekly podcast, was actually far more
informative
#Post#: 147439--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: Archquin
Date: January 6, 2026, 2:32 pm
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Surely who we can attract will also depend on what Quins are
paying and if they can bring their own assistants etc 🤔
#Post#: 147440--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Ruck podcast is up with CEO interview
DIR By: DOK
Date: January 6, 2026, 3:15 pm
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--- Quote from: SiB link ---
>
> Thought the rugby union weekly podcast, was actually far more
informative
>
--- End Quote ---
So you thought an interview with the CEO with the club in crisis
and chickens coming home to roost was going to be informative?
[emoji4]
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