Fylde RFC head coach Warren Spragg hoping to keep squad together for next season

READ MORE: Fylde reflect on a valiant season like no other

It is far from certain that the 2020/21 season will be able to start as normal in September, though it has been confirmed that Fylde will remain in National Two North next season after the Rugby Football Union announced its rulings on final tables, promotions and relegations last week.

During the summer, Fylde would normally confirm which players had been re-signed for next season and it is no surprise that Spragg would once again be looking to retain the bulk of his current first-team squad after a campaign which certainly lived up to expectations and ended with the club in second place.

The question of new contracts is complicated this summer, however, by the financial hardships inflicted on all community clubs by the coronavirus pandemic as revenue streams run dry.

The RFU have confirmed a £7m crisis fund for clubs to tap into, though difficult months will inevitably lie ahead.

What matters most to Spragg is that clubs stay united and look after each other. He recently told The Gazette: “Over the next few months we will all want to stick together and whenever we start next season I hope we do so with a pretty similar squad.

“Contracts for next season are on hold but what I would say about this squad is that I trust and respect the players. I enjoy coaching them and I know they enjoy being at the club.

“These are of course very difficult times financially. There is a government commitment to honouring people’s wages and we need to make certain how that applies at a club like ours.

“We need to know about all the support that is out there as our own sources of income dry up.”

And it isn’t just about clubs looking after their own. Spragg would like to see a code of good behaviour between clubs to ensure that attempts are not made during the long off-season to raid clubs for their talent.

He added: “There is a concern that some people may see this as an opportunistic time to disrupt clubs and tempt players elsewhere. I hope that respect is shown throughout the game and that everyone agrees it isn’t the best time to start decimating each other’s squads.”