Axe fears affecting Borders players, admits Bates

NETHERDALE was bathed in fabulous sunshine yesterday, but coach Steve Bates admitted the black cloud of uncertainty remained in the minds of players wondering whether professional rugby would be played there next season.

The appearance after training of Gordon McKie, the SRU chief executive, was welcomed as a sign that Murrayfield are keen to keep players updated on how the proposed cutbacks are being managed. But his visit - following similar meetings with Glasgow and Edinburgh players - brought no news of a definite investor. Dialogue continues, but no meetings have yet been held.

Bates explained: "Undoubtedly, this has been the toughest couple of weeks since I came here. Even when we first started, and were looking at reducing squad size, we knew we'd still be here, but, I suppose, we've been under continual pressure with almost every couple of months there being comments about three teams being cut to two.

"At Christmas time we had firm assurances that we'd stay at three teams in Scotland and we thought we could look ahead, but the spectre of one going has now returned and it has made for a very difficult couple of weeks for us. And we've had Munster, Llanelli away and now Ulster, so it doesn't get much more difficult than that.

"I actually thought the first-half performance against Llanelli - where we were outmuscled and outgunned up front - was a manifestation of us not feeling particularly buoyant. We try and create an environment for players here where we are as positive, honest and enjoyable as we can possibly be. But the problem with that is if the environment suffers then the psychology of the player suffers a bit."

There is some optimism around, however. The Borders might appear the poor relation compared with city rivals Edinburgh and Glasgow, but The Scotsman understands that there are at least two individuals with significant funds behind them interested in forming a consortium to take control of the Reivers pro team.

John Thorburn, the Border Reivers' manager, stated: "I can't go into details on possible investors, but, yes, we are in discussions with people with an interest in Borders rugby.

"The problem has been the need for a prospectus, to show what parameters we could work within with the SRU, and Gordon [McKie] hopes we could have that available by the weekend. As soon as we have that we'll be meeting potential investors."

Bates insisted that he is planning for the new season with the same vigour as he did last year and yesterday announced another new signing - 23-year-old Ed Kalman. The 6ft 1in prop learned his rugby at Glasgow club Whitecraigs and developed at the Newcastle Falcons Academy, and played for Cambridge in this year's Varsity match in a year out of pro rugby studying.

Stuart Grimes, the Scotland Test lock, remains in Bates' sights, but he has still to sort out his release from Newcastle. Sean Crombie, the Aberdeen GSFP prop, is also to be signed on one of the new academy contracts.

More immediately, the focus is on shocking Ulster at Ravenhill tonight. It is a huge task, marked perhaps by the return of Borders' veterans Paul Thomson and Semo Sititi, but if achieved it would certainly lift spirits around Netherdale. The Borders are currently six points ahead of Glasgow in the race for the final Heineken Cup place and know that a win would seal a return to Europe's premier event.

Ulster (v Borders at Ravenhill, 7.30pm): B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, J Bell, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best (capt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, R Wilson, S Ferris. Subs: P Shields, J Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, N McMillan, K Campbell, P Wallace, T Howe.

Borders: S Moffat; S Danielli, B MacDougall, C MacRae, N Walker; G Townsend, B McKerchar; P Thomson (capt), S Scott, B Douglas, S MacLeod, O Palepoi, K Brown, S Sititi, A Miller. Subs: S Crombie, T McGee, C Stewart, J Dalziel, J Weston, C Hore, G Law.

Referee: J Jones (Wales).