 |
|
|
|
|
 |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
New Chief
Executive appointed
The Raiders have never had someone employed in this role before, it’s traditionally been up to Head Coach Gary Stronach and the Raiders board members to look after the administration of the club together with the marketing, finance, school and community coaching programme, summer camps etc. The appointment will free up more of Coach Stronach’s time to concentrate on actual coaching, both of the team and players individually. Until recently, Briggs was working for the Raiders in a voluntary role, running the club’s development programme and coaching junior players. The move into full time employment with the 2007 BBL Trophy Winners gives him an opportunity to take up his ‘dream job’ as he described it. “I’ve been a Raiders fan since I was 13, so to be able to work full time for the club that I’ve always supported is just something that was too good and too exciting to turn down.” It will also give the club a chance to make the adjustments necessary for long term survival in the BBL, and in the future, a potential move into European competition. “It’s really important that we have a strong structure in place to move ahead. We’ve got some very exciting plans for the future, but the Board recognised that to achieve many of them, they’d need someone working for the club full time.” He’ll be leaving a marketing consultant’s job within the food industry to take up the Raiders’ position, and has a strong marketing background, something that the Raiders were keen to take advantage of. “Dave’s previous jobs demonstrated to us that he was the right man for the job,” said Raiders’ Chairman Bob Widdecombe. “He’s worked at a high level with some huge multi national companies, and helped them develop marketing and promotions strategies. The business skills he has along with his track record of developing the club’s junior structure, meant that there was only one name in the frame when we came to appoint someone.” The school and community programme operated by the club will take on an increasingly important role. “It’s really important for the club’s future that we get into schools and colleges, not just here in Plymouth, but throughout Devon and Cornwall. Naturally, we’ll be coaching basketball to as many children as possible, but at the same time we’ve got a lot of experience in delivering important messages about healthy living, anti bullying, anti racism and the importance of exercise. These are all things that schools are keen for us to talk to the children about.” He’ll still have the responsibility of growing the club at grass roots level and running the junior national league teams, and this is something he was keen to emphasize. “We’ve done a lot of great work in the last year or so, we’ve moved from 4 teams this time last year to 11 teams now, introducing girls’ national league teams for the first time ever, and taking over the running of the senior women’s team. There’s a lot more to be done in the future, and I really wanted to see each of the elements of our new five year plan realised. The job gives me a great opportunity to do this.” The club are keen to work with the old Buccaneers wheelchair team to see them re-launched and put together a junior wheelchair training squad. “I’m under no illusions whatsoever, it’s a heck of a challenge, and it’s a huge job to do, but I’ve never been as excited to start a job as I am now. I just can’t thank the Raiders enough for giving me the chance to do this, and help build a successful and strong future for the club. Last year we won the BBL Trophy and finished fifth in just our 3rd year in the league. Next year we want to win more games and the team that Gary’s putting together looks like it could be our best yet. That alone should hopefully encourage more fans to come to home games.” Season ticket information is due to be released anytime now, and the club are keen to increase the numbers sold from last season. “Season ticket sales are hugely important to the club and they give fans the chance to help us build an exciting and successful team,” said Widdecombe. “There’ll be a few extra incentives there for people to buy the season tickets, and I’d encourage fans to get them as early as possible.”
If you have any queries please contact the Club direct:
e-mail:
|
||||
 |
||||
Kularoos Plymouth Raiders have taken a very important step in
their development as a club, appointing a new full time Chief
Executive. Dave Briggs will move into the position on Monday
18th June, a move that will allow the club to take
some big steps forward in the future.