After the Heineken Cup pool stage came to its conclusion over the weekend, Edinburgh’s season takes a two-week breather ahead of the resumption of Magners League hostilities on Saturday 12 February when a trip to Newport Gwent Dragons awaits.
Midway through his debut campaign as chief executive, Craig Docherty will this week update supporters on the hard work being undertaken at all levels of the Edinburgh operation to ensure the club continues to develop and reach its potential.
An exclusive podcast interview will be available on Tuesday right here on www.edinburghrugby.org, featuring Docherty’s take on such issues as crowds, providing an attractive match-day experience for our loyal supporters, and how the club is seeking to consolidate and improve its position in a challenging commercial environment.
Docherty’s update comes amid coverage of the efforts of both Scottish professional teams that Edinburgh, Glasgow Warriors and Scottish Rugby consider unhelpful. Of particular concern is an article entitled ‘Running on Empty’, written by Alasdair Reid, which appeared in the Sunday Herald of 23 January.
Negative coverage of this kind harms the reputation of Edinburgh and Scottish Rugby, and does not reflect the endeavours taking place across the board to improve the clubs both on and off the field.
Docherty today confirmed: “Since taking on this role just before the start of the season, I’ve been struck by the passion that exists both within the club and our supporter base.
“Everyone I work with, and every fan I’ve met, is committed to helping Edinburgh grow. The last thing I want to see is that dedication being undermined, and that potential for growth being damaged, by reporting that gives an incomplete impression of what we’re doing and what we’re about.
“Like every club across every sport, we’re operating in a challenging climate in terms of generating revenue, attracting investment and supporters and making sure we continue to improve on the pitch season after season.
“Nonetheless, it’s important to acknowledge the positive things that are happening at Edinburgh. We’ve just signed one of the most sought-after players in Europe, Tim Visser, on a new two-year contract, while the recent Greaves Sports 1872 Cup game at Murrayfield was a great success, with the team winning the match and more tickets being sold than for any other previous home derby.
“On the commercial front, we’re making concerted efforts to secure the sort of support that can be invested to the betterment of the team. This season, we’re launching a Business Club, where we’ll bring together some 50 members of the Edinburgh business community to meet our coaches and players and learn about the exciting reality of becoming involved commercially with a professional rugby club.
“The message is that we want to engage. Whether that’s with supporters, potential sponsors, broadcasters, government or any other parties who have an interest in taking this club forward, we want everyone on board.
“We don’t have all the answers, so we’re very much about listening and the collaborative effort. The media have a role to play in this as well; it’s right and proper that they put us under scrutiny and hold us to account, but I think it’s reasonable to expect them to give a complete picture.
“At Edinburgh, we operate in a very different environment to some of the clubs we’ve been measured against in recent media coverage. Obtaining support from broadcasters and from local authorities is a challenge we’re continually faced with, for example.
“I’d like both to put on record my thanks for the support our fans, sponsors and current broadcast partners provide, and to emphasise our absolute desire and determination for this club to be all that it can be. I look forward to working with all interested parties to ensure that happens.”
LOG ON TO www.edinburghrugby.org ON TUESDAY TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH CRAIG DOCHERTY
Picture: John Preece
