Off the field changes at Welsh

We are used to players coming and going but this time changes are happening off the pitch at London Welsh with three in (including two new Directors) and three moving on to pastures new. Dragons’ Den welcomes the new arrivals and bids farewell to those departing.

The London Welsh Board has been boosted by the appointment of two new Directors who join Kelvin Bryon and John Taylor around the board room table. The Board, of course, remain ably advised by Steve Lewis. Dragons' Den is sure that all London Welsh members will join us in extending a very warm welcome to Ray Fagan and Stephen Cole.

Ray Fagan is the current President of St David’s Day in London, a Welsh speaker and a native of Rhuddlan, Denbighshire. For many years a key figure within Wales in London, Ray takes an active part in many London events with a Welsh connection. His professional background is in Accountancy, Ray is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, and he is now a partner in Cavendish Corporate Finance LLP where he has worked for the past twelve years.

Also new to the Board is journalist Stephen Cole. A long-standing London Welsh supporter, Stephen runs his own production company as well as working for Al Jazeera Television. His CV includes periods of work for BBC, ITN and Sky.

The ‘Commercial Department’ comprises just a single member of staff and therefore very soon it will face a 100% turnover. Joining London Welsh is Konrad Deckers Dowber who becomes the new Commercial Executive. Konrad’s clear passion is football and cites his ambition as being “in a position where I can make decisions on global footballing matters with the aim of strengthening links to communities, whilst expanding its global attraction”. With a degree in Humanities, Critical Traditions of Western Thought, Globalisation (answers on a postcard please) and then a year working in a fashion retailers within Covent Garden, Konrad has gained his experience for the Commercial Executive role during a three month internship at Pitch PR. Although working for London Welsh, Konrad is employed by GSMM, the club’s commercial partners and the winners of the fourth prize (World Cup Final tickets and flights) in the recent sponsorship raffle.

The news of Konrad’s arrival brings us to the latest departure from the club’s management team. After little over three months in the role Claire Spencer has stepped down as Commercial Executive. Despite such a short time in the role Claire’s contribution to London Welsh will no doubt be remembered for the aforementioned sponsorship raffle, the innovative auction of player sponsorship via eBay and the recent introduction of green socks.

We also say goodbye to Ben Hester who after more than three years as Video Analyst will no longer be taking his place at the back of the stand. Ben joined London Welsh in September 2008 after a short training period at Wasps. Ben’s replacement has not yet been announced and we wish him every success in the future.

The biggest gap in the club’s structure has been left by the resignation of Gerald Davies, the Team Manager. Gerald has been Team Manager for three years and Dragons’ Den cannot top the biography shown on the official site. It is therefore reproduced below so that it remains available even after his profile is removed.

“Headmaster, scout, disciplinarian, navigator and occasional baby sitter, the role of rugby manager is wide and varied, as the current incumbent, Gerald Davies, will only be too happy to inform you.

With the retirement of Morlais and Jan Evans at the end of the 2007/08 season, it was primarily Gerald that picked up the slack, taking on the duties performed so admirably by the dynamic duo.

But having fulfilled a variety of guises at the club, from player to 1st XV fines administrator, this season has seen Gerald add a few more strings to his already plentiful bow not to mention continuing to keep a beady eye on the players.

Born in Harrow, of Welsh parents (Ebbw Vale), it was in boxing and running that the young Davies would first excelled, before his athletics coach got him involved with rugby at Wasps. It would be only a matter of time, however, before Gerald found his way to Old Deer Park in 1970.

A winger by trade, he played alongside the likes of Keith Hughes and Dai Llewellyn.

It was in 1982 that Gerald hung up his playing boots and, with Glan Richards' encouragement, first tried his hand at coaching, completing the WRU coaches and starting with the London Welsh U16s. But it was developing underage rugby that he discovered he had a natural flare for, and an offer from Ealing RFC fired his interest.

Gerald would help to establish the clubs mini section, taking advantage of the RFUs Sport Foundation initiative called Championship.

He was then approached by the RFU, and for a year became involved in their Network Rail initiative, aimed at keeping children off railway lines. Brentford FC were next to enlist Gerald's services as part of the clubs new Positive Futures Programme - a Government scheme aimed at using sport to keep kids off the streets, which is still running today.

But after a break of seven years it was Clive Griffiths that tempted Gerald back to London Welsh in mid 1990's to help run the clubs U21 side. Once back at Old Deer Park, gradually he would become more and more embroiled on the managerial side, taking on the reins of 1st XV rugby manager and then subsequently absorbing much of the role previous fulfilled by Morlais and Jan, as well as various other ad hoc duties that fell into his lap.

Aside from playing a key role in developing London Welsh's relationships with St Mary's College and Westminster University, Gerald also played a major role in nurturing the clubs links with Wasps. Links which have seen the Dragons benefit from loan players such as Charlie Beech, Matt Corker and Hugo Ellis.”

Comments thanking Gerald have been posted on this message board and we know that everyone at the club will miss his unique and incredible contribution to London Welsh.