Struggling Sale deny Bryan Redpath has been sacked

By GARETH BLACK
Published on 30/10/2012 02:50

SALE Sharks last night dismissed reports that Bryan Redpath has been sacked as the club’s director of rugby.

Reports said the Scot had been given the boot after his team lost their first seven Aviva Premiership matches of the season.

But the club’s head of media Dave Swanton said in a statement: “Sale Sharks would like to place on record that Bryan Redpath has NOT been dismissed by the club.”

Speculation has swirled around Redpath’s position after their dismal start to the campaign and their latest reverse, a 23-16 loss to Worcester on Friday, left them seven points adrift at the foot of the table.

Redpath took over at Sale in June after leaving Gloucester, part of an overhaul of the club as they left Stockport for the City of Salford Stadium.

Big-name signings including Danny Cipriani and Richie Gray followed but the results have not, with only a single Heineken Cup victory over Cardiff Blues in the wins column. The 41-year-old Redpath spent five years with Sale as a player between 2000 and 2005. He was capped 60 times by Scotland.

Meanwhile, Scots player Bryan Rennie will miss the rest of Bristol’s English Championship campaign with suspected cruciate ligament damage.

The 27-year-old, who is in his first season at the Memorial Stadium, suffered the injury in their 34-28 British and Irish Cup victory over Ulster earlier this month.

Coach Liam Middleton said: “This injury is a great disappointment for Bryan and the first team squad.

“Bryan has been a very positive influence both on and off the field since arriving from Exeter during the summer.”

Rennie impressed in pre-season matches against Agen, Narbonne and Munster but did not make his first start until 6 October, against Rotherham, because of a shoulder problem.

And Middleton said it was “simply unfortunate” he had now suffered another, more serious, injury.

He added: “As an outstanding professional, I’m confident that Bryan – along with our medical staff – will do what’s required and more to return to full fitness.”