Alex Loney delighted to be half of new head coaching team at Fylde RFC

So says Alex Loney, who forms half of the new head-coaching duo at Fylde alongside fellow senior player Chris Briers.

Following the announcement that Warren Spragg was to leave his post after three and a half years to become full-time kicking coach at Sale Sharks, Fylde wasted no time in promoting his assistants Loney and Briers to share the head coaching duties.

It is an arrangement which delights hooker and occasional prop Loney, who is confident it will work whenever Fylde are able to return to a rugby field.

He told The Gazette: “We’re very excited and it does mean a lot after nearly 10 years at the club. I’ve made a lot of good friends here and it feels like the right move.

“I’m ready for more responsibility and I couldn’t feel more supported by the club. Mike Brennand (chairman) and Dave Young (director of rugby) laid their cards on the table straight away and they have bright hopes for the club with us at the helm.”

The finer details of how this joint-management system will work are yet to be ironed out but Loney is convinced he and Briers will complement each other well.

“I’m a forwards expert so will be taking the lead in that area, while Chris focuses more on the backs,” he explained. “I’d be lying if I said we’d finalised every detail but we have said we’ll make sure the message is consistent.

“We have confidence in each other because we are on the same page and we respect other after many years.”

An issue Loney appears to have made a final decision on is hanging up his boots after a distinguished professional career with Nottingham, Avignon and Rotherham as well as Fylde, the club he joined in 2011.

He added: “It’s a question that’s been lost in all this and nothing has been said officially, but I’m probably done playing because of the new role.

“I’m 37 and have come through various injuries. I was unsure about carrying on beyond this season, but with the extra responsibilities the playing side probably needs to go. I’ll focus on coaching because the players need a clear message.”

When that coaching can begin in earnest remain unclear. The idea of salvaging this season with a one-off competition for National League clubs remains on the table, though it seems unrealistic for this to start as planned next month.

Loney said: “We’re at the mercy of the decision-makers. We know they are thinking positively, and as soon as it’s okay to train we will get on with it and make a plan, though I think we are probably looking more to 2021-22.”

That will mean negotiating new contracts with players on one-year deals and Loney said: “That will be one of the early jobs to get sorted. We have full confidence in these players. There’s no need to chop and change because we are really happy with the squad.

“We know the talent we have and that the relationships are good, so we are hopeful of keeping the squad together and confident we can take it forward.”

The 2021-22 campaign is due to be the final one for the current National Two system before its two divisions of 16 become three divisions of 14 the following year.

The restructure has few fans at Fylde but Loney is determined to look forward. “The masses have spoken,” he said. “Throughout the whole RFU there are different views and it’s happening. Next year it’s still National Two North and it’s natural for us to go at it, then reassess once we see what the following year looks like in terms of the make-up of the league.

“It will be difficult after a year without any rugby. It’s a case of getting back playing again, getting the club busy again and getting through this year.

“It’s also about enjoying the game. The squad is ambitious and wants to win games but we’ll make sure the players go out there to enjoy it.”

Look out for our interview with Chris Briers later this week.

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