Sarries’ Sanderson all set for return to Sale
FORMER BACK-ROWER TO BECOME NEW DIRECTOR OF RUGBY
ALEX Sanderson is set to be named Sale’s new director of rugby, but Paul Deacon will remain at the club after impressing during his spell as interim coach.
The former rugby league star has been in charge since the shock departure of Steve Diamond last month, during which time they have won their last two Gallagher Premiership games, having started off losing their first three matches.
However, Deacon has always seen himself more of a coach than a director of rugby.
Former Sale player Sanderson will fill that role, leaving Saracens where he is forwards coach to move to the AJ Bell Stadium.
But Sale chief executive Sid Sutton says Deacon will retain a key role at the club.
“We are extremely pleased with how the coaching team have taken the job on under very difficult circumstances,” said Sutton in a message to Sale fans.
“The owners and I have been nothing but impressed with Deacs and anybody who may be brought in needs to compliment him in his role.
“It is of importance that we keep our current coaching team in place as we have an outstanding team leading our group of players.
“If the right person becomes available and we believe that person can complement what we have in the right ways we will of course act accordingly to ensure a successful future for the club.”
The Premiership and European competitions are now on a two-week break following the increasing spread of Covid, and there has been talk of a longer spell with no action.
But Sutton believes that would be a mistake.
“Premiership Rugby, the RFU and the clubs are continually reviewing processes and our number one priority is the safety of all involved, but I think the country needs something to pull us together at the moment,” he said. “These really are challenging times for everyone and if we can provide some relief to that by keeping people occupied at home watching an attractive brand of rugby, then that can only be a good thing.
“Of course, if circumstances change and we receive new directives from the government then we will abide by those, but at the moment I know all Premiership clubs are being incredibly stringent with their efforts to control the virus.
“The environments we are training and playing in are as safe as they possibly can be and we will continue to learn and develop our practices to ensure this going forward. It’s unfortunate that we cannot continue our European campaign as we would have liked but we have built some momentum under Deacs in the Premiership.
“On the upside (the break) has afforded the players some valuable time off that otherwise we wouldn’t have been getting, so we have to take the small wins and do what needs to be don’t in order for us to return to normality.”