STU: I’LL GET BATH TO RUN HOT AGAIN

BATH boss Stuart Hooper is looking up from the basement at the rest of the Premiership, but believes there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Nine league defeats out of nine adds up to bottom place in the domestic roster, and a European hammering by Leinster and a Premiership Cup defeat have made it an unwanted 11 reverses.

It is a far cry from the late 80s and early 90s when Jeremy Guscott and Co were in their pomp and Bath won six titles. But the cavalry are coming.

Last week, Bath appointed Munster’s Johann van Graan as head coach, to work under director of rugby Hooper (below), from the start of next season.

Edward Griffiths, the former Saracens CEO with a reputation as a rugby visionary, will also start work as chairman next month after owner Bruce Craig stepped aside without stopping his financial backing.

And Hooper is determined to come out at the other end at the west country club. “I’m never going to sit here and say it has been an absolute breeze,” he admitted.

“There have been moments when it has been tough.

“It is about standing up and being counted and we need to keep doing that. I firmly believe we will get the break through and we will get on a roll.

“We are getting through the detail around the roles and responsibilities of people and making sure everyone has the chance to give their best to the club.

“We have had a period of time when we have not been performing, it has been tough and everyone wants that to turn around.”

New defence coach Brent Janse van Rensburg has just started work on plugging the leaks and the club have just been given the green light to redevelop their Recreation Ground.