Press Release 24-01-2012

After pulling back from the brink of disaster last season it was always the case that this season was going to be the toughest in the club’s climb back to a sustainable and successful future. For the plan to succeed, everything had to work in the club’s favour, but this has not turned out to be the case. In the current financial climate when we are all tightening our belts, revenue has been hard to come by, and this has hit the club hard despite considerable support from new and exisiting sponsors and our members. For the club to keep surviving the Committee has had to make some difficult, but ultimately necessary, decisions about cost cutting. As a consequence, the club has had to end the tenure of Bob Crooks as our director of rugby. Bob has been a great asset to the club over the last 3 and a half years and has stuck with us through thick and thin. As the funds available to National 1 sides have dwindled, against the worsening backdrop of the wider economy, the club has to cut its cloth accordingly. We wish Bob well in securing another post soon and we know he leaves the development pathway for junior players at Cambridge in the best shape it has ever been.

Other costs in the club have also been cut and this has had to extend to those players who are paid in some way for playing. This may well lead to some changes in the squad as those unable to continue move on to better things, but we know the strength in depth we have in our wider squad, including our Wanderers, will mean we can continue to play quality, entertaining rugby in National 1. We are appealing to supporters and sponsors for offers of employment for players who no longer have a salary.

Our successful Community Coaching Programme that reaches out to thousands of youngsters in the area will continue to thrive under the direction of Danny Hunter, providing employment for some of the players while helping to develop their coaching skills. Our huge mini and youth operation also continues to go from strength to strength and attract many hundreds of youngsters to Volac Park every Sunday, and our squad of senior amateurs, the Exiles, continue to grow in standing supported by the young players coming through from the youth section. Furthermore, our club facilities will continue to offer a quality venue for business meetings and seminars outside the playing schedule, as well as a great place to entertain on match days.

The measures that are being put in place this month are there to secure the long term future of the club and with the support of our club sponsors and the huge community of supporters and rugby players, both adult and junior, we are doing our best to ensure the future of rugby at Volac Park.