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Joe Launchbury: I’m very optimistic Wasps can be saved from administration
Captain says team ‘fully trust’ club’s hierarchy
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Will Kelleher, Deputy Rugby Correspondent
Sunday September 25 2022, 5.00pm BST, The Times
Launchbury says the club still has a huge amount to offer
The Wasps captain Joe Launchbury vowed that the club will fight on despite the looming threat of administration but the players trust their owners to steer the club clear of danger.
Launchbury, 31, was at Wasps when they last were threatened with financial meltdown, in 2012. Now the on-field leader, he is finding this uncertainty stressful, but wants it to galvanise the club.
“It’s unsettling isn’t it?” he said after beating Bath 39-31 on Friday night.
“Especially when the word gets chucked around, which I don’t think the club wants chucked around – administration. No one wants to hear that.
“If I’m brutally honest, I probably care too much about the club. It means an awful lot to me, it’s been home for a long, long time. I want the best for it and all its employees. The game was a challenge to get right for, but I’m really proud of the boys.”
The club gave notice of appointing administrators last Wednesday, and on Thursday owner Derek Richardson, chief executive Stephen Vaughan and chief operating officer Chris Holland met with players and staff to explain Wasps’ plight.
“We fully trust them,” said Launchbury. “The people at the top are very clear about the fact that they want to be part of the club and to find solutions to this. For us as players, hearing [from them] on Thursday was music to our ears and now we’ll leave that to them.
Launchbury has full trust in those who run the club, despite its uncertain future
“We’re not going to pretend that we’re [players] going to solve any issues in that area. All we can try and do is win rugby games.
“Until I’m told otherwise I’m very optimistic. Maybe I’m a little bit biased, but this club has a huge amount to offer, a huge amount of things going for ourselves. I believe the future can be really bright for this club.”
The head coach Lee Blackett said he will look to protect Launchbury in this situation, worried he will burn out trying to lead the club out of crisis.
“You have got to be really wary,” said Blackett. “He is someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, he loves the club, he does so much.
Blackett wants to protect his captain from burning out due to the stress about the club’s future
“I don’t want him to take too much. We have to look after Joe as well because he is so passionate about the place that this could get on top of him.
“He has got a massive year for us, he leads by example by what he does on the field. Hopefully, he has got a World Cup at the end of it, and the last thing we want to do is put too much on his shoulders.
“He is one hell of a captain, he is a special individual.”
Topic: Joe in the Times tonight (Read 1568 times)
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