Phil Maynard's task to stabilise Coventry
By The Birmingham Post
June 4 2008
One of the most colourful personalities in Midlands rugby has joined the region’s most colourful club with Phil Maynard beign named rugby director at troubled Coventry. Maynard, the man who guided Worcester from obscurity and Pertemps Bees to the last four of the Powergen Cup, has agreed a two-year deal to take over at Butts Park and has been charged with bringing stability
to an organisation that has lurched from one crisis to the next in recent seasons.
The appointment marks a return to professional rugby for a man who has been out of the sport in the 18 months since he was made redundant after more than four years at Sharmans Cross Road.
Maynard has devoted his time to developing his player agency business and has returned to the club where his coaching career started, Kings Norton. But having acted as an advisor to Cov chairman Andrew Green in the last few months, he could not turn down the chance to work at one of the proudest names in the English game nor reject the opportunity to wake a sleeping giant.
“I always said if the right club came along I would consider coming back and although I have had a couple of offers, this one just seemed right,” Maynard said. “The major incentive was what Coventry is and the challenge of meeting their supporters’ high expectations because they vote with their feet. In that respect it raises the bar for me.
“I have had 18 months off although I have enjoyed my time at Kings Norton I am also looking forward to this. I have coached big clubs in the past and know all about the pressure involved.”
While much of Maynard’s squad building has already been done the former Birmingham back row must assemble his backroom staff, a task that involves retaining the services of forwards coach Dave Addleton and the recruitment of a backs coach.
Addleton stepped in as interim head coach last term following the firing of Murray Henderson and resignation of his replacement Brett Davey.
The former hooker not only steadied the ship but presided over some of the club’s best performances of the season.
“Dave Addleton is the No 1 target to keep,” Maynard continued. “I have already met with him. People like Dave Addleton are Coventry.
“I always rated him highly as a player and have admired from a distance what he did last season in some difficult circumstances.
“They did well last year and the coaching of Dave Addleton was a key factor. Under him the forwards were a formidable unit and all I am going to do is enhance what the side does.
“There is a tendency with some people to come into a rugby club and rip everything out but if something’s not broken it doesn’t need fixing.
“My brief from the chairman is that he wants stability and I have got a couple of years to put together a side that can take the next step and become a top half of the table team. We have got a settled side, most of whom are contracted for two years and I watched them play quite a few times last year and was very impressed with what we had.
“The only enemy we have at the moment is consistency – by their own admission. That’s all we need and it can be worked on. Hopefully the lads will buy into that process.”
For his part Green is aware that Maynard’s appointment may not be welcomed with open arms.
Some Coventry supporters took umbrage to Maynard’s confrontational style during his tenure with Bees and a few remain sore at the cancellation of a game between the two sides because of a frozen pitch.
Green, however, preferred to focus on the fact Maynard presided in the most successful eras in club history at Bees, Worcester and Stourbridge.
“Phil has got an excellent track record and I am confident that what he brings to the club will help us to move forward,” Green said. “He now feels the time is right for him to move back into this role, and we definitely need someone to head up the department and drive it on. There has always been a strong rivalry between Bees and Coventy and I know that in the past Phil has sought to make it as competitive as possible.
“But that is part of the game and we should all give him the benefit of the doubt and welcome him to the club. It would be nice to have him working with us rather than against us.”
Meanwhile Coventry’s National One status is set to be decided by the Rugby Football Union on June 15. The governing body are examining the process through which Green placed the club in administration and their future viability.

Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:05:11:32:00 by Jel of Solihull.
Mind you it was not too much of a secret.
Dont know if its a good thing or not, I'll wait and see I think.
Mind you at least we wont have to play if its too cold!
But anything has got to be an improvement on what we
currently have, and if it means that AG is going to keep his hands off playing matters it's got to be a good thing.
Mind you i hope his contract made sure his press comments were censored before publication
![[:wor kid:] [:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif)
Quote:bigm
this man was a figure of distain and hate.
Leaving aside the creative spelling here, I wonder at the use of the word 'hate' in the context of sport.
Whatever this person has or hasn't done to Coventry RU, I don't really see the need for the use of such words in relation to any sport or sports person. Or is it still acceptable to 'hate' in Union?
What a truly awful image that conjures.
Not that it unduly concerns me, but I would have thought it would be more sensible, and sensitive, to welcome a newcomer. Not that sensitivity has ever been too prevalent around here so far as I can see.
Regardless of what critcisms he has voiced in the past, and I don't know what they are, PM has obviously proven that he has what it takes to move clubs forward and if he can do the same for Coventry, that can only be a good thing.
I have to agree with OCCB - hate is an excessively severe word to be using in such a context. There are many people who might not be liked, but hated? I don't think anyone could honestly say that hate someone they know well, let alone someone they have probably never met.
HOWEVER, HE DOES HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DIVISION AND WHAT IT TAKES . I HOPE HE PROVES PEOPLE WRONG AND HE MANAGES TO RESTRAIN HIMSELF. PERSONALLY I WOULD RATHER OF SEEN THE OLD NEWBURY COACH , COME TO COV WHO IS NOW AVAILABLE.
Quote:bigm
ok hate might be a bit strong
Very magnanimous
Quote:bigm
HOWEVER, HE DOES HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DIVISION AND WHAT IT TAKES . I HOPE HE PROVES PEOPLE WRONG AND HE MANAGES TO RESTRAIN HIMSELF. PERSONALLY I WOULD RATHER OF SEEN THE OLD NEWBURY COACH , COME TO COV WHO IS NOW AVAILABLE.
No need to shout.
I hope he proves you wrong too, and that you don't 'manage to restrain' yourself in taking your ill-judged comments back, with a little humility, if he does....
Oh, and perhaps the 'old Newbury coach' ran a mile when (if) asked? Who knows?
Lets hope its good news on the 15th

He should do a decent job for you, he certainly knows how to spot playing talent.
we are shopping in bargain basement land yet again and if this pm is so good how come he got told no thanks buy a bunch of part-timers.what has he won!
The only rugby i,m looking forward to is the games up the ricoh
As i have said before if we arn,t going to challenge the best teams in the league why bother.we,ve got about 3 or 4 players who are fairly decent the rest are a waste of time.
NO INVESTMENT,POOR TEAM,POOR GATES,GOODNIGHT VIENNA.
He has hardly started in the position and we fans are calling and making remarks already. So keep your fingers crossed that we are still in ND 1 next season. The club as made no statement that they claim they will win the league. If you win the lotto Harleygaz you can invest in players. Now you have got me being as daft as some of the posts on here.
covmick/Michael Carter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:05:23:40:54 by covmick1/Michael Carter.
Go have a lie down.
Let’s not forget that Phil is the guilty party, he made Coventry supporters despise him, but it is now time to bury the hatchet and move forward.
I believe Phil needs to apologise for his past misdemeanours, it would be an excellent way of establishing good relationships with all Coventry supporters and a valuable PR exercise on behalf of the club….
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:06:08:03:06 by Laugh Out Loud.
Yes Phill has a colourful background, including having the power for the Marquee at Sharmans Cross plugged into the broom cupboard they call an away dressing room, leaving the players to manovuere under the hanging cable which went across from the window to a plug socket, Classic? I for one think he will probably do a good job for CRFC given the chance
as magwitch says give him a chance even if it does stick in my craw.It is all part of a larger picture and as mick says needs everyone to pitch in together not create even more factions.
Phil has certainly got something to prove to us supporters and perhaps that will be motivation enough.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:06:08:42:07 by tom snr.


Constantly asking for apologies, withdrawals, retractions etc via a public forum is a) futile, and b) inappropriate.
Time to move on.
You have a club to support (and I take it 'Jel' has one too, although I'm fairly sure it's one that has been in reverse gear since Mr Maynard left it, unless I miss my guess...).
covmick/Michael Carter
Thanks for answering it, whatever it was Covmick.
I too respect - and regularly watch - both codes. However, I know which one provides the best value for money based on endeavour, ball skill levels, fitness, intensity, continuity of play etc. etc. Just ask Mark Giacheri, Mick Curtis, Kurt Johnson, Simon Brocklehurst and many other 'dual-coders' for their perspective. I think you'd find it interesting.
I know I get a lot more time for making a cup of tea when a union game is on
Get yourself along to OCs on a summer Saturday Covmick. What have you to lose?
Must keep my amateur status !!!!
covmick/Michael Carter
Cov = full time 'pro'
Bears = pay-to-play amateurs (The 'old fasshioned' way???).
Beats me where you are coming from with that one.....
You're just scared you'll be turned on to a better game I think!
Quote:Jel of Solihull
On a serious note - I am just about managing to contain the mirth welling up inside me - PM's departure from the Bees was I believe primarily financial rather based on his performance. (How much he contributed to this, if at all, I cannot say.) His best 'find' for the Bees was Akapusi Quera, now one of Glaws' leading players. While clearly a man that provokes strong opinions, both for & against, given Cov's current position I incline to the view that he should be allowed time to prove himself - or not - before the knives come out. His presence will certainly incline me to come along to Cov should the Bees be away & Cov at home, so there's a bonus ......
Good grief, another open-minded union fan. We'll soon have a quorum at this rate


. Hopefully he will prove to be an excellent addition to the club.Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:06:16:30:26 by Sky Blue.
wish cov all the best
Either you have a personal issue with Phil or this is just infantile sour grapes.
PM did a good job at Bees, with limited resources,so much so that he guided the Club to the semi- final of the then named Powergen Cup - remember ???
Remember also that fantastic day when Bees made history by beating a team called Wasps to reach the semi-final - remember ???
Yeah, i bet you were'nt 'sledging' him then were you ?!!
I suggest mate, you go and find a life, or better still go and have it out with PM in person - if you have the guts........


