News in from Edgeley Park:
Philippe Saint Andre To Leave Sale Sharks
Philippe Saint Andre
The Board of Sale Sharks is sad to announce that Philippe Saint Andre
will step down from his position as Director of Rugby at the end of
the 2008/2009 season. Philippe joined Sale sharks in May 2004 and at
the end of this season Philippe will have been in charge for five
seasons, having spent a total of 8 years in rugby management in the
Guinness Premiership, making him one of the league's longest serving
Directors of Rugby. Philippe has decided that it is time to take on
different challenges and move on to pastures new and that this season
will be his last at Sale Sharks.
Kingsley Jones, the current Head Coach will continue working with
Philippe and will promoted to Director of Rugby at the end of the
season, assuming overall responsibility for all rugby operations at
the Club. Kingsley joined the club in 2004 and has been a key member
of management team over the last few seasons.
Commenting on his decision Philippe Saint Andre said,
"I feel very honoured to have been Director of Rugby at such a fantastic club.
The last five years have been very exciting and I am proud of the
achievements of the team over this period. Coming top of the Guinness
Premiership and then going on to win the Guinness Premiership Final
against Leicester in 2005/2006 was the highlight for me, but I am
proud of all the teams I have managed over this period and have been
privileged to have worked with great players and outstanding coaches
and staff. I would especially like to thank the fans and supporters of
Sale Sharks who have shown great kindness and loyalty to me and my
family during my time at the Club, and hope that I can repay this
support with another trophy at the end of this season.
I would also like to thank Brian Kennedy for bringing me to Sale
Sharks from Bourgoin in 2004. Brian and Ian Blackhurst have been very
supportive to me throughout my time at the Club and I would like to
thank them for giving me the opportunity to manage Sale Sharks. I have
enjoyed working with them both very much and also with the other
members of the Sale Sharks Board.
I am totally committed to achieving further success and believe that
with the current squad of players and coaching staff, we can win a
major trophy this season.
I am delighted that Kingsley will be taking over rugby operations
after I leave. I brought Kingsley to the Club in 2004 and like me he
is passionate about the Club and is determined to achieve success at
Sale Sharks. I am certain that the future of the Club is in safe
hands."
Commenting on Philippe's departure Kingsley Jones said,
"I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to work with
Philippe over the past five seasons. Philippe is an inspirational
coach and I have learned a huge amount from him over this time. For
the remainder of this season I will be working with Philippe to try to
make this his last season his most successful at the Club.
I have a clear plan on how I will take the Club forward when I become
Director of Rugby, building on the success of the last five years and
also developing further the Sale Sharks Academy to bring through
players on which our future success will depend."
Commenting on Philippe's departure, Brian Kennedy owner of Sale Sharks said,
"I would like to publicly thank Philippe and his wife Patricia for
their dedication in moving to Cheshire and the amount of time and
commitment they have, as a family, given this challenging task. I am
pleased that Philippe will remain with the Club until the end of the
season and know that he is even more motivated to finish his tenure
with another title. I am delighted that Kingsley will be succeeding
Philippe as Director of Rugby and believe that this is a great
testament to the management structure that we have developed at the
Club, allowing for continuity and an orderly succession."
Commenting on Philippe's departure, James Jennings Chief Executive said,
"Philippe has been at the heart of the Club for the last five years
and has helped make Sale Sharks one of the leading clubs in the
Guinness Premiership. His legacy provides the foundation for the
Club's future success and hopefully Edgeley Park will always remain a
little bit of France. We will all be working hard to make Philippe's
last season a successful one. I congratulate Kingsley on his
appointment and look forward to working with him in the coming years.
"
