Cambridge Rugby Club coach Bob Crooks (Pic: Chris Fell)

Director of rugby goes as club cut costs

BOB CROOKS has left Cambridge Rugby Club, and several of the club’s players could follow him out of Volac Park.

A statement released today said Crooks, the club’s director of rugby, has exited the Blood and Sand due to the club’s continuing financial problems.

Cambridge almost went out of business last season over a six-figure tax bill, and a statement released today said more belt tightening is needed at the National League One club.

The statement said: “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. We wish him 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.”

Crooks joined Cambridge as forwards coach, and stepped up to the Director of Rugby position in February 2010 when James Shanahan left the club. Last season, his first full campaign in charge, Cambridge finished third in the league, winning plaudits for their attractive style of rugby.

But the close-season departures of key players such as Ben Spencer, Robbie Hurrell and Dan Mugford hit them hard, and this term the team has struggled for consistency. Saturday’s defeat at Macclesfield left them tenth in the National One table.

The statement concluded: “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 financial backers 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.”

Cambridge host Coventry on Saturday, 2pm.