Who owns bath rugby

Bath announced on Wednesday evening that Andrew Brownsword, the owner and chairman of the club, and the Trustees were selling per cent of the shares in the club to Craig. Financial details of the sale are yet to emerge, but the announcement included a proposal to create a new club headquarters and elite training complex at Farleigh House, 15 minutes from the centre of Bath, and a renewed commitment to plans for a 20,, seat stadium to hopefully be confirmed within the next 12 months.

The city provides the club with a unique backdrop that drives an incredible passion for the game in players, staff and supporters. My aim is for Bath to earn the right to be seen as one of the best clubs in professional rugby — a benchmark for others both on and off the field — and create a stronger infrastructure for future sustainability.

Not much irks him but he has been stung by perceived criticism of his decision to address the players' huddle following the narrow home European defeat to Biarritz. I played rugby for 25 years, I've been in huddles and changing-rooms. If players didn't want me there, they'd say: 'What are you doing?

Off you go. We were as good as Biarritz, it was just a lack of communication at the end. They've got to understand their responsibilities. If there is respect there — and that is the key word — they are going to take [constructive criticism] and move forward. There's no point in us losing all the time.

We've got to win. With a home near Marseille and a French wife, Catherine, he is also an unabashed fan of the Gallic system which links the salary cap directly to an individual club's turnover. It's another fallacy that if you throw a lot of money at it, you're going to get a winning team. It doesn't work like that. Nor will a big defeat at Leicester tomorrow sway Craig from his belief that McGeechan and Steve Meehan, Bath's head coach, will, ultimately, deliver the goods.

Some of the stuff that has been said is farcical. In the Independent last week they were talking about Andy Robinson coming in. It was all pretty sensationalist. The reality is that Steve Meehan is a very competent, intelligent guy and Ian McGeechan can add huge value with his knowledge and experience.

My confidence is in those guys and I speak to each of them a couple of times a week. Craig added: "There has been much local debate about our future stadium plans.

I wish to be clear that I am committed to make every effort, with the council and other business partners, to secure a new stadium, with modern associated facilities by and with everyone's support we are hoping to deliver that solution within the city of Bath. Outgoing chairman Brownsword, who has been at the helm of the club for 14 years, claimed Craig was the ideal man to make Bath as successful as possible. He said: "My desire to sell has been something of an open secret for some time.

We have talked with many interested groups but I believe, in Bruce Craig, we have now found the man who can really take this club forward. Today's announcements confirm this.