27 May 2008

PRESS RELEASE

MAJOR CHANGES AT GLASGOW HAWKS

Glasgow Hawks RFC today (Tuesday) announced a major restructuring of the club with the dual aim of strengthening club rugby at Hawks, New and Old Anniesland and schools in the north of Glasgow area, as well as producing and developing more players for the professional and national teams in Scotland.

Kenny Baillie, a former Scotland Under-21 player, has been appointed as Chief Executive of Glasgow Hawks and will work alongside Peter Wright as Director of Rugby and Grant Talbot, Club Development Manager, to fulfil the club’s ambitious plans to help create a stronger club game in Scotland.

The funding of three senior full-time employees is being made possible with a significant amount of hard work, fund-raising from a variety of sources both private and corporate and a trust is being established which will transfer ownership of Glasgow Hawks from its current two owners – The Glasgow Academical Club and The Glasgow High School Club Limited.

Kenny Baillie, Chief Executive of Glasgow Hawks, said: “I am delighted to become the full-time Chief Executive of Glasgow Hawks and look forward to working with Peter and Grant to raise the standard of rugby at our club and throughout Scottish rugby.

“We want to work in partnership with the SRU and Glasgow Warriors to create a stronger club game in Scotland in order that more top class players are produced for the professional and international teams. To achieve this, Hawks and other clubs have to become more professional in the way they do business and we have taken the first steps to ensure this is achieved at Hawks.

“My primary responsibility will be to ensure Peter and Grant have the resources they need to nurture and produce top class talent at Hawks which will, in turn, benefit Scottish rugby as a whole.

Speaking for the first time about his return to Hawks as Director of Rugby / Head Coach, Peter Wright said: “My first priority is to bring Hawks back to the level of rugby I know they are capable of as well as improve the standard of rugby played by all teams at New and Old Anniesland, Balgray and schools in the north of Glasgow.

“However, I also want to work in partnership with the SRU, the Warriors and the rugby community to ensure Scotland has a strong and vibrant tier below the professional teams that bridges the gap that currently exists between those playing at the top level and the club game.

“Club rugby in Scotland has suffered over the last 15 years due to lack of investment and focus but there are lots of clubs out there who want to revitalise grassroots rugby and we want to work with them to collectively raise the standards of rugby across the country.”

The appointment of Kenny Baillie and Peter Wright is phase two of Glasgow Hawks’ mission to strengthen the rugby played at all levels in the club. Phase one was the appointment of Grant Talbot as Club Development Manager last August which has already seen Glasgow Hawks working with Glasgow City Council to provide rugby to children in the north of Glasgow.

Prior to joining Hawks, Kenny Baillie was Business Development Director at Dynamic Knowledge Corporation, a successful spin-out of the University of Strathclyde and he previously worked for Graham Technology in the UK and USA. A former Scotland Under 21 player, Kenny has played at Glasgow Hawks since 1999 and has served on the club’s Board of Directors for the last three years.

Peter Wright returns to Glasgow Hawks following three years in charge of the Scotland Under 19s. His previous spell at Hawks saw the club secure the league and cup double in 2004, as well as the league title the following year.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Kenny Baillie on 07855 481 007 or Peter Wright on 07764 178 927

Notes to Editors:

Photographs of Kenny Baillie, Peter Wright and Grant Talbot are available from the club’s website – www.glasgowhawks.com

This article was originally posted on 27-May-2008, 11:34 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 27-May-2008, 11:36.