A PHONE call made during the 2008 season from first grade coach, Allan Barker, to Singleton Rugby Club president, Michael Kelly, has initiated a major review into the structural organisation of rugby at the club.
What may prove to be a most significant legacy, the experienced and astute Barker was brutally honest regarding his view of the organisation of the rugby within the club.
Not one used to failure or open criticism of his club, Kelly, who has overseen the expansion of the rugby club facilities to what it is today, the premier show piece of rugby throughout NSW Country, and the successful management of the club debt, so that within two years the club hopes to be completely debt free, reacted decisively and immediately.
He called on Tony Ernst, a long serving player and official of the club, and one who had been proposing change for some time, to construct a model for change within the club, which could successfully lead the club into the future. Tony has spent many an hour negotiating with the various stakeholders and building such a model which addresses all of the issues raised.
Hopefully his efforts will bear fruit next week, as the recommendations go before the board for appraisal. If approved by the board, club members will receive, through the mail, an outline of the proposed changes which, by their nature, will require changes to the present constitution. Such a major reform will require member approval at a suitable club meeting before they can be implemented.
The basic thrust of the changes is a general reduction in the number of directors on future boards, with each prospective board position being assigned to a particular role or function within the club.
The key recommendation as regards the rugby is the creation of a new position of rugby director. The role of the position is to oversee and coordinate all aspects of rugby at the club by facilitating rugby activities.
Functions include driving the development of rugby, establishing a sound rugby structure, create a vision for the future, strategic planning for the future, responsibility for finances involving rugby within the club and supporting junior development.
The club has approached and since appointed two people to this position. They are Michael Barrett and Mark Dyball. Both are long term members of the club, former players, first grade coaches and officials who bring a wealth of experience to the position. Both played in an era when the club was very successful on the field and both are keen to assist the club back to that position and already have put into place a number of strategies to achieve this.
Early meetings have occurred between the senior executive, the rugby directors and coaching staff to put strategies into place for the 2009 playing season and thus far it is all very positive. They include a radical change to coaching within the club, pre-season trials and club tours.
The club has begun discussions with two leading Sydney clubs who are keen to play trials in Singleton as a part of their pre-season build up, while discussions have all but been finalised for a trial at the beach in March for the ‘Bulls’. The club will also attend the annual pre season competition in Armidale.
It is expected that in February the club will hold a significant players’ season launch in which these initiatives will be announced, but it will be an exciting time for the club and most importantly players wearing the famous red and black of the Bulls.
It is expected that coaches will be appointed formally this week and will be announced next week with the view to commence training on Friday December 5.
Michael Kelly is confident that the structural changes will bring significant rewards to the club. Even now, during the off season, there is a real buzz around the club as plans that are being made are slowly being disseminated throughout the club.
No organisation can continue to be successful, even if it has a rich history of success, without reviewing itself on a regular basis and changing to meet the varying circumstances that face that organisation.
The Singleton Rugby Club has done this, and only time will tell how effective the club has been. But one thing is for sure, 2009 will be an exciting time, not only for the players but the whole club.
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