Steve Bates is eyeing a return to the top

Sep 14 2010 by Nick Purewal, The Journal

Despite his new Team Northumbria role, Steve Bates still harbours top-flight ambitions. The ex-Falcons rugby director told Nick Purewal he will not waste his coaching experience

UNSEATED unwillingly from his Newcastle Falcons perch, Steve Bates is relishing his university cameo – but he has not ruled out a top-flight return.

Bates has bridged the gap left by Richard Arnold at Team Northumbria, providing a consultancy role while the university club forges a new direction.

Ex-Falcons No 8 Arnold is back at Kingston Park working with the Academy, while Bates has spent the back end of the summer getting to grips with life outside the Premiership by helping Northumbria plot their North One East course.

Arnold led Northumbria to three straight promotions in the local leagues pyramid, the university side beefing up their Saturday rugby in the Loughborough and Hartpury mould.

After overseeing Newcastle’s biggest-ever squad overhaul, Bates led the Falcons to a ninth-place finish last term – not good enough for Dave Thompson.

The Falcons chairman wielded the axe, and now the dust has settled, Bates has been able to tell The Journal that he disagreed with the Newcastle board’s views on a number of issues.

Bates helped Northumbria recruit new head coach Nick Gandy, who returns to the North East after a season’s stint at Beverley’s Bishop Burton College.

The ex-Blaydon rugby director enjoyed a fruitful coaching stint at Northumbria that ended in 2003, guiding the university to three British Universities Cup finals. Bates will be on hand until at least October, but there have been no discussions outside the shortest of terms. As for the Premiership, Bates sees no point wasting a lengthy top-flight career, but appreciates the constraints of opportunity.

“Am I confident and proud of what we achieved at the Falcons? Yes,” explained Bates.

“I haven’t spent 15 years in professional rugby to be put off course by some peoples’ opinion, which obviously I don’t agree with.

“I don’t see that that time should be wasted, and I’ve gained a lot of experience, and I think that’s still worth pursuing, but opportunity is obviously a factor.

“The decisions that have been made were certainly not decisions that I agree with.