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#Post#: 147623--------------------------------------------------
The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: DOK
Date: January 11, 2026, 4:50 am
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Insiders reveal fears of a 10-player exodus
HTML https://archive.is/tjS8B
and major financial hit this summer amid 'lack of
accountability' among coaches, rift over contracts and club
legends shunned
--- Quote from: Joe Marler ---
> Part of the reason I retired was because the club were going
in a different direction that I didn't necessarily agree with in
terms of their playing style. Lo and behold, Danny left. I
didn't want to say, “I told you so”, but…
--- End Quote ---
--- Quote ---
> Club legend Mike Brown is another name pushed forward by some
of his contemporaries. Brown, 40, has completed a Masters degree
in sports directorship and is currently working with Esher RFC
in the fourth tier of English rugby. Daily Mail Sport
understands he has offered to come into the club for free but
nothing has yet materialised.
>
> 'There are too many yes men at the club,' said one source.
'They should go out and get Mike in some sort of management
capacity. He knows the club inside out and is more qualified
than any ex-players. He's someone who doesn't take any bulls***.
> 'There's a bit of friction between him and some people at the
club because of how he left but they should look beyond that.'
>
--- End Quote ---
#Post#: 147624--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: January 11, 2026, 5:04 am
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[emoji25]
#Post#: 147625--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: Quinto
Date: January 11, 2026, 5:21 am
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I take a punt on Iron Mike in some coaching capacity. I’m
confident he’d put some passion back into the players.
The rest is just a shambles.
#Post#: 147626--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: January 11, 2026, 6:00 am
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I'm not sure the answer is to bring in a bunch of ex-players,
even ones who've got a masters degree and are coaching in the
4th tier. I'm not convinced ex-player power is better than
player power, and both should be behind competent coaches.
In general, ex-players trying to keep a profile have a lot of
opinions.
#Post#: 147627--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: FatQuin
Date: January 11, 2026, 6:08 am
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It’s interesting that former players are piling on now but we’ve
underachieved for most of our history given the resources we
have and they have been part of that. Brownie’s line seems to
be just various ways of saying we need one voice but there’s no
evidence he’d be the right one and none of the others are
offering solutions, just saying the playing style isn’t right.
I haven’t been happy with how a number of our favourites have
been released but they cannot completely distance themselves for
the fact we only win something once a decade.
#Post#: 147628--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: Harleking
Date: January 11, 2026, 6:18 am
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The "10 player exodus" including everything from academy to
senior players is such classic newspaper spin it's almost
difficult to be annoyed at it. I doubt there's a single club in
the league who won't see that many changes from top to bottom.
It might even be a positive thing if they are the right players.
#Post#: 147629--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: DOK
Date: January 11, 2026, 6:20 am
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I'm usually against the idea of ex-players and their criticisms.
They get quickly out of date, the game moves on and the tactics
and training becomes completely different to what was required
in their day. But Mike Brown, 72 caps for England, 4th most
appearances of anyone in the Prem? Are we saying "what would he
know? What relevant experience does he have?" ? Given he could
be a free resource, surely as long as his coming in doesn't make
matters worse, what is the problem? It would at least enable us
to look at a possible coaching/consulting resource without a
commitment on either side, and if it's deemed that the fit is
wrong then we just part.
That said, if the management have a better idea, then let's get
to it. MB is certainly not the solution to all the club's
problems, but maybe (and it is just a maybe) he could help with
one or two.
#Post#: 147630--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: Quinky
Date: January 11, 2026, 6:23 am
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People keep talking about accountability. I can't see how it's
going to improve anything just by someone taking responsibility
for what's gone wrong. What's needed is change and for that to
happen it will need someone to take control and lead. Not just
on the pitch, but also off the pitch.
Joe left because he didn't like the way we were starting to
play. That's fine, but professional players are paid to play,
and that's not dependent upon whether they enjoy the style. If
they do, it's a bonus.
Conversely, if the style doesn't bring success, that falls on
the management. But if the players aren't getting behind it, the
style will never work.
+I love the Quins style as much as anyone. I wouldn't want us to
change how we play, and we clearly have the players to do it. So
IMO the solution is either the players do it their way (and they
have to succeed), or the management is changed.
#Post#: 147631--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: January 11, 2026, 6:34 am
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--- Quote from: DOK link ---
>
> I'm usually against the idea of ex-players and their
criticisms. They get quickly out of date, the game moves on and
the tactics and training becomes completely different to what
was required in their day. But Mike Brown, 72 caps for England,
4th most appearances of anyone in the Prem? Are we saying "what
would he know? What relevant experience does he have?" ? Given
he could be a free resource, surely as long as his coming in
doesn't make matters worse, what is the problem? It would at
least enable us to look at a possible coaching/consulting
resource without a commitment on either side, and if it's deemed
that the fit is wrong then we just part.
>
> That said, if the management have a better idea, then let's
get to it. MB is certainly not the solution to all the club's
problems, but maybe (and it is just a maybe) he could help with
one or two.
>
--- End Quote ---
The question is whether he actually could tell the coaches
anything they don't know already. Yes, he was a great player.
But I'm not convinced that the coaches don't know the problems.
I think they don't know how, or haven't managed to, fix them. Is
there anything to be gained by another voice saying "this is all
shit"? Maybe he has a solution that no one else has thought of,
but I'm not sure that's likely.
Honestly, if I was the coach (which I am obviously not qualified
to be), I'm not sure I would take up the offer of a former
player saying "let me come in and fix it all" when there's no
particular evidence they could. It's more likely to just add to
the chaos. The way to do it is to get the right head coach and
director of rugby and then let them select the assistants they
need to put their game plan in place. Maybe they would choose
Brown as one of those. But randomly bringing Brown in is
back-to-front.
#Post#: 147632--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Harlequins Crisis
DIR By: DOK
Date: January 11, 2026, 6:36 am
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--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> People keep talking about accountability. I can't see how it's
going to improve anything just by someone taking responsibility
for what's gone wrong. What's needed is change and for that to
happen it will need someone to take control and lead. Not just
on the pitch, but also off the pitch.
> Joe left because he didn't like the way we were starting to
play. That's fine, but professional players are paid to play,
and that's not dependent upon whether they enjoy the style. If
they do, it's a bonus.
> Conversely, if the style doesn't bring success, that falls on
the management. But if the players aren't getting behind it, the
style will never work.
> +I love the Quins style as much as anyone. I wouldn't want us
to change how we play, and we clearly have the players to do it.
So IMO the solution is either the players do it their way (and
they have to succeed), or the management is changed.
>
--- End Quote ---
But if the players can sort it themselves, what are the coaches
doing to add value?
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