Brown's Got Blueprint For Long-Term Success

Gloucester operations supremo Alex Brown is confident his new-look coaching team, led by rookie head coach George Skivington, will silence the naysayers by being successful for years to come.

- Neale Harvey

A summer of upheaval at Kingsholm saw experienced leadership duo David Humphreys and Johan Ackermann depart, before Skivington became a surprise appointment to the top coaching role.

Ex-Wasps, Leicester and London Irish lock Skivington has since been joined by Alex King and Dominic Waldouck as Gloucester plot a new route.

Asked whether appointing Skivington represented a risk, Brown said: “Of course there’s a risk with any coach, regardless of whether you employ a senior international guy or a young, up-and-coming coach like ‘Skivs’. But the whole coaching group needed to be right and George’s experience from playing and his understanding of the Premiership is second to none.

“He’s been in the Premiership all of his career, playing and coaching, and in a short space of time has done some really impressive things and gained a lot of respect from players he’s been involved with.

“With Alex King’s knowledge and expertise alongside him you’ve got a good balance there and Dom Waldouck has also become very well regarded in the short time he’s been coaching.

“Dom adds energy and the blend of coaches has worked out very well. They’re really good people and, ultimately, we’ve got a young, English coaching crew here now who will be with us for the long-term.