Head Coach Dave Baldwin To Leave Preston Grasshoppers

Date: 12 June 2012

Preston Grasshoppers’ Head Coach David Baldwin To Leave Lightfoot Green

PGRFC can confirm that Head Coach David Baldwin will be leaving Lightfoot Green club with immediate effect to take up the full time position of forwards coach at Championship outfit Leeds Carnegie.

 

Whilst disappointed to be losing a valued coach who was instrumental in last season’s excellent campaign, the club is delighted for David to be given the opportunity to move back into the professional game, particularly so as it is at his home town club.  David, originally from Bramley is a passionate Yorkshireman whose parents still live in the Leeds area.

Preston Grasshoppers' Head Coach Dave Baldwin is Leeds bound. Photo courtesy of Mike Craig.

Speaking on his move David said, “I would like to thank the management for giving me an opportunity to coach at a fantastic well run club. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Hopper’s and feel as though I leave with the club moving in the right direction and I’m sure this will continue. I would really like to mention the most important people which are the player’s who have made my job easy and been a pleasure to coach and manage. Finally I would like to wish the club every success in the future and look forward to watching next season.’’

 

Commenting on the departure, Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Committee Member Gareth Dyer said “I am delighted for Dave that he has been given this opportunity. It is no surprise to me that a club of Leeds size and standing have called for his services. He is a top notch coach with a wealth of experience in the game. We have benefited from his skill and commitment over the last two seasons and he has contributed massively to our development during that period. We are naturally disappointed to be losing him as we have generated a real momentum over the last 12 months culminating in an excellent end to our league campaign and of course our superb Lancashire Cup win. He leaves a firm foundation both on and off the pitch for the club to build on”.

 

Dyer then turned to the search for a successor. “We have established an excellent coaching structure and whilst losing Dave is a blow, it certainly does not throw us into a panic. We have a strong panel of coaches at the club who will assume control in the interim. Karl Fitzpatrick will continue in his role as Skills and Conditioning Coach whilst Mike Lough remains as backs coach with an eye on developing our 2nd XV. James Eastham has been doing a lot of Strength & Conditioning work during the off season and will continue to be an important part of our backroom team. I am also delighted to announce that Alan Holmes has been promoted to the role of Assistant Coach with responsibility for the forwards. Alan is a highly qualified coach who was heavily involved with the coaching of the squad last season. We had been due to announce Alan’s promotion earlier but we have had to delay this whilst the situation with Dave was resolved”.

 

“In terms of a direct replacement for Dave then we are happy for now to keep our options open. Some names have already been put to us whilst I am sure the role will be an attractive proposition to many individuals who would like to be involved with an ambitious, well organised club such as ours. We will take the necessary time required to make the right appointment whether that comes in the form of an external appointment or from within”.

 

Any individual interested in the role should contact Chairman of Rugby Michael Bailey at their earliest convenience. Michael can be contacted on 07973 131640 or by email to michael.bailey@bailey-fs.co.uk

 

Rugby Committee member Gareth Dyer has done a piece for BBC Radio Lancashire which will be aired tonight  from 6-7pm.

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