In the Telegraph:
Dan Robson spoke for all the Wasps players as he revealed the “shock” of hearing the news that Dai Young had been removed as director of rugby. But the scrum-half insists the sudden change of leadership will not damage the team’s determination to fix a troubled and miserable Premiership season.
Robson, who praised Young for being so influential in helping him break into the England set-up, said the club’s decision to move the Welshman aside from his first-team duties last week was “disruptive” as they tried to concentrate on preparing for the Saturday’s visit to Welford Road.
Lee Blackett, promoted from within to take over as interim head coach with the Wasps board expected to start a search for a replacement, took charge of the 18-9 defeat by fellow strugglers Leicester, making it a miserable end to a difficult week.
Wasps say Young, 52, who has been a steady hand on the tiller for nine years and oversaw the move to the Ricoh Arena, has been linked with Ospreys, while it is known that he has been working in a tension-filled environment, mainly due to player signings.
Wasps, who are 10th in the table, host Saracens on Friday keen to regain the winning threat, but Robson said: “As disruptions go it was not ideal. It was a massive shock for all of us when we found out on the Tuesday. It was pretty tough news to be told.
“The first thing we spoke about as a leadership group and then as a team was that we still had to prepare the best we can for the trip to Tigers, and make sure nothing changed. I’ve never been in a situation like this before so it is difficult. It’s been our job as leaders to stop little groups going into corners and talk about the ifs and buts of what might happen. We need to have group conversations together and get feelings out in the open.
“We have no control on what goes off the field. We just have to remain focused on what is happening on it. But if we cannot get ourselves up for a Friday night game against Sarries at the Ricoh then you know you are in the wrong job. We definitely feel we owe the fans a performance, so we are looking forward to it.”
On Young’s expected departure from the club he has served so well for nearly a decade, Robson said: “Dai has been massively helpful with my career since I came here. He gave me a chance at Wasps and I will always be grateful to him for helping me get an England cap off the back of it. He is definitely someone I will be keeping in touch with, no matter what happens.”
Blackett said he was in the dark over the Young decision, but added: “It was a surprise, but we are in a professional sport and it’s about how the team do on the field and the players just need to worry about that and do their jobs.”
Sounds like just about everyone has been caught with their pants down. I'm not surprised that we have not yet had a clarifying statement from the club. Hope for one sometime this week - sooner rather than later. Lets get the air cleared and the uncertainty out of the way as we prepare to kick some EAs ass. Pity Elliot won't be playing.