Saints Need Deano To Turn Them Into A Big-time Club
JIM Mallinder has had highs and lows at Northampton, starting with winning promotion back to the Premiership, to the 2011 European Cup final – which they had won, but then lost – to the club’s first Premiership title in 2014, and then the lows since then.
There had to be an upturn this season, and when there wasn’t Mallinder was always in jeopardy. There were rumours that a few players walked off during training sessions, and if that happens you are shipping water badly.
Coaches also left during Mallinder’s decade as Northampton’s director of rugby, and backroom-wise it became a bit of a revolving door with the likes of Alex King, Ali Hepher, Rob Hunter and Paul Grayson all moving on.
During Mallinder’s time at the club the pitch has been superb – turning from a surface which had boggy patches to one better than most professional football surfaces – but in recent seasons the team has failed to capitalise on it.
When spectators started leaving during the Ospreys game last weekend most people could see that Mallinder’s departure was almost an inevitability so you like to think that Jim could see what was coming, and it therefore wasn’t a shock to him.
Northampton are potentially a huge club, currently with some decent players, and their fans have been waiting for them to make the best of what they’ve got. The missing link is finding a coach who can do the job.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
