Mike Ford: Bath will rip things up if we need to

Bath Rugby

Mike Ford: Bath will rip things up if we need to

ESPN Staff

April 13, 2016

Mike Ford smiles on the touchline at the Rec© (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Bath coach Mike Ford is planning for next season and has owner Bruce Craig's support following a poor campaign.

Last May Bath faced Saracens in the Aviva Premiership final but 11 months on they are languishing in the lower half of the table and face an uphill battle if they are to secure Champions Cup rugby for next term through a top-six finish. The club had big plans for this season in its 150th year, but Bath have won just seven matches in the Premiership and were dumped out of Europe in the pool stages.

Despite the poor campaign, Ford says he has the full support of owner Craig but is fully aware there can be no repeat performance next season.

"I speak to Bruce every week," Ford said in the Guardian. "He does not want to isolate me and not help but be the best he can as an owner, coming up with solutions to help the team win. We all want the same thing here and he understands the challenges.

"This season we had the World Cup on top of the Six Nations and at one point were down to our sixth-choice outside-half. They are facts, not excuses, but he is still disappointed we are not doing better.

"That's fair enough. We will look at everything and rip things up if we need to. Maybe I should have done that last year when we were doing well, and it is all about how we can get better.

"If Bruce is not happy with me, he will tell me. You want that honesty. I am old and ugly enough to know what will happen if we carry on losing next year after a pre-season with all the squad, and good players coming in. I am not stupid but there is no way I expect us to be in that position next year."

© ESPN Staff

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Mike Ford: Bath will rip things up if we need to