Will Croker not giving up hope of a Basingstoke RFC comeback

He admits that he has no grounds to fight the club’s decision to terminate his contract, but has said that he would return to Down Grange if asked to by the people who are voted in to take charge of the club at a forthcoming Extraordinary General Meeting.

“As far as I am concerned, at the moment, I am not Basingstoke RFC’s head coach,” he said.

“What happens next has to be led by the players.

“If the players come to me and say that they think it’s in their best interest to move on, then I will look for something else to do on Saturdays.

“If they come to me, as they have, and say that they don’t want this, then I am humbled by their reaction and will see how things play out.

“It is in their hands now and if a new board are voted in and decide that they don’t want me, then that will be it.

“I am upset about the way the whole thing has been handled, though.

“To get just a six-line email from a solicitor telling me that my contract had been terminated, two days before Christmas, is despicable and has left a bad taste in the mouth.”

Looking back at the decision that led to his demise, Croker has nothing but regret.

“We made a huge mistake, which we have admitted to and apologised for,” he said.

“I have been involved in the game of rugby since I was eight and have never been sent off. I have a good reputation and this sits horribly with me.

“I feel vindicated, to a degree, because at the hearing, I was given credit for telling the truth all of the way through. Our account of what happened that afternoon never varied.

“This episode has cost me a lot in terms of reputation, but I still believe that I can get my career back on track.

“People can see that I made a mistake, but that does not mean that I am not a good coach, so hopefully there will be opportunities elsewhere.

“None of us wanted to go out like this, and I feel genuinely sorry for Steve Tristram and David Crabbe. They have been great servants to the club, as has Niall Catlin.”