Dear Cheeky Watson
I sent an open letter to the Union on the 30 May 2015 representing supporters on our pages, highlighting our concerns; we were not being ready for Currie Cup, and not building for Super Rugby 2016. We made it clear that this was not a witch-hunt against Cheeky Watson but rather we had serious concerns that it appeared there was no plan in place to ensure we were ready for 2016. Our letter spoke to; the ongoing sponsor saga, lack of coaching structures, the urgent need to add to our player pool, improve communication and refrain from using the word “immanent” which was frankly comical.
I think every Kings Supporter was happy when in early June you responded to our open letter, indicating there were plans; for coaching staff (head coach etc), sponsors coming on board, and a plan to improving the player pool. However, almost in the same month and subsequent months the cracks started getting wider, late payment of players salaries, coaching staff continued to leave, players confirmed they were leaving, it was clear things were starting to unravel.
We we are in late November just under 95 days to go to our first SR match find our Union and Super Rugby Franchise at the edge on an abyss, on the brink of collapse some would say already collapsed. SAPRA issued ultimatums to the Union for payments which were missed by the union, and as a result key players exercised their right to leave, frankly we expected more to go. We still do not know what the SR training squad will be two weeks into SR pre-season, and our players are yet to begin training, the new recruits haven’t even seen the squad. SARU have stepped in and rightfully so, without their intervention and drastic steps being made, I could not see the Southern Kings turning out a side on the 27 February 2016 against the Sharks.
With Afri-Forum suggesting they have a sponsor to come on board, only, if you walk, sadly creates a win lose situation, and placing an ultimatum on one’s head and I understand why one would want to dig in and have a street brawl. I am certain now SARU have stepped in to manage the SR Franchise, will assess the best options, open for the EP Rugby Union, we all hope cool heads will prevail and decisions are made with the unions best interests in mind. It would be rather unfortunate and ugly for it to go to the AGM (and if the stories doing the rounds) and have to face a possible embarrassing vote of no confidence, as no one will know where the cards may fall and what personal agendas may be present. I do know you have always had EP Rugby at heart and in the forefront of any of your plans.
So now what you may be asking, you have gone to lengths to say that this is not a Cheeky Watson show and that if anyone else could do it better they should step forward and I applaud you for this. So, should the SARU meeting in Cape Town show that the union will progress with new leadership, and then we ask that you do the honourable thing and step down, so the union can go forward and franchise side can prepare for the toughest rugby competition.
The current situation is not a healthy one for the players Union staff and the supporters base, if we do not see positive movement, I can see the next generation of supporters supporting other South African franchises and everything you managed to achieved before this season would have been in vain.
We really want to see EP Rugby and the Southern Kings up at the top of SA Rugby, and we hope that everything will fall into place and not return to the dark years of the early 2000’s
Stuart Weir - Chairman, Kings Army Supporters Club
I sent an open letter to the Union on the 30 May 2015 representing supporters on our pages, highlighting our concerns; we were not being ready for Currie Cup, and not building for Super Rugby 2016. We made it clear that this was not a witch-hunt against Cheeky Watson but rather we had serious concerns that it appeared there was no plan in place to ensure we were ready for 2016. Our letter spoke to; the ongoing sponsor saga, lack of coaching structures, the urgent need to add to our player pool, improve communication and refrain from using the word “immanent” which was frankly comical.
I think every Kings Supporter was happy when in early June you responded to our open letter, indicating there were plans; for coaching staff (head coach etc), sponsors coming on board, and a plan to improving the player pool. However, almost in the same month and subsequent months the cracks started getting wider, late payment of players salaries, coaching staff continued to leave, players confirmed they were leaving, it was clear things were starting to unravel.
We we are in late November just under 95 days to go to our first SR match find our Union and Super Rugby Franchise at the edge on an abyss, on the brink of collapse some would say already collapsed. SAPRA issued ultimatums to the Union for payments which were missed by the union, and as a result key players exercised their right to leave, frankly we expected more to go. We still do not know what the SR training squad will be two weeks into SR pre-season, and our players are yet to begin training, the new recruits haven’t even seen the squad. SARU have stepped in and rightfully so, without their intervention and drastic steps being made, I could not see the Southern Kings turning out a side on the 27 February 2016 against the Sharks.
With Afri-Forum suggesting they have a sponsor to come on board, only, if you walk, sadly creates a win lose situation, and placing an ultimatum on one’s head and I understand why one would want to dig in and have a street brawl. I am certain now SARU have stepped in to manage the SR Franchise, will assess the best options, open for the EP Rugby Union, we all hope cool heads will prevail and decisions are made with the unions best interests in mind. It would be rather unfortunate and ugly for it to go to the AGM (and if the stories doing the rounds) and have to face a possible embarrassing vote of no confidence, as no one will know where the cards may fall and what personal agendas may be present. I do know you have always had EP Rugby at heart and in the forefront of any of your plans.
So now what you may be asking, you have gone to lengths to say that this is not a Cheeky Watson show and that if anyone else could do it better they should step forward and I applaud you for this. So, should the SARU meeting in Cape Town show that the union will progress with new leadership, and then we ask that you do the honourable thing and step down, so the union can go forward and franchise side can prepare for the toughest rugby competition.
The current situation is not a healthy one for the players Union staff and the supporters base, if we do not see positive movement, I can see the next generation of supporters supporting other South African franchises and everything you managed to achieved before this season would have been in vain.
We really want to see EP Rugby and the Southern Kings up at the top of SA Rugby, and we hope that everything will fall into place and not return to the dark years of the early 2000’s
Stuart Weir - Chairman, Kings Army Supporters Club
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