Matt Sherratt has spoken about last week’s events for the first time
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt says the club are “probably more secure” than ever after the Welsh Rugby Union took them over last week. The Arms Park side were temporarily placed into administration by their directors last Wednesday, with the WRU completing their takeover hours later.
The move to go into administration came after club owners, Helford Capital, failed to fund the club to the level they were contractually obligated to. That kickstarted a long week for those in CF10, with Sherratt admitting that it was “unsettling for 24 to 48 hours”.
Speaking for the first time since the WRU’s takeover of Cardiff, Sherratt said that Cardiff’s players won’t use the events of last week as an excuse for their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes to fade away. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Cardiff, who currently sit in ninth, have four more matches to force their way into the top eight.
“Obviously the word administration and the fanfare around it is pretty unsettling, I won’t lie to you, but it was unsettling for 24 to 48 hours,” said Sherratt.
“Nothing has actually changed for the staff and players. Everyone who was in contract is still in contract.
“We are probably more secure now than we ever have been as a club, with the WRU coming in.
“There is a massive amount of history here and I think the Welsh game would lose a lot if it lost Cardiff. It’s an iconic club in the middle of the city. It’s essential that rugby stays.
“The WRU have been brilliant. I can’t speak highly enough of how they have been. The speed they have done it at has been impressive. But away from the business side of it, their first thought has always been about the people at the club. I got texts immediately asking if the players and staff were ok.
“Regardless of the nuts and bolts of it, the way they cared about the staff and the players was the most impressive thing for me.
“It will be nice to get back to rugby because, from my perspective in particular, it wasn’t an easy week to concentrate on rugby.
“What’s brilliant for us is we have got two games left in Wales – one is at the best stadium in the world and the other is our last home game at the Arms Park against Munster – and then we are almost on an old fashioned tour to South Africa to see what we can get.
“Because I know the lads, I don’t think they will use the last week as an excuse to let our season just peter out.
“The group are pretty tight and they will want to finish the season in the right way.”
Having sat in the play-off places for much of the season, Cardiff now head into the final four games sitting just outside of the top eight. However, they are level on points with Benetton and Edinburgh – who sit in the two places above them in the table.
Heading into their final fixtures against Ospreys, Munster, Bulls and Stormers, it’s not an easy run-in for the Blue and Blacks by any means.
“Our goal is going to be to try and get ten points out of our next two games,” said Sherratt. “The league is so tight and the reality of going to South Africa after is it’s a tough place to go and pick up points.
“So that’s going to be our aim. We need to pick up 10 points.
“We looked four or five weeks ago at what gets you in the play-offs and a guaranteed number is probably around 50 points.
“I think this year it may be one or two less because of the competitive nature of the league with everyone beating each other. It’s pretty tight. To get that, I think these next two games are massive.”
Club captain Liam Belcher has also offered perspective from the players’ point of view, saying: “It’s been pretty stressful, to be honest, but I’ve also got to give credit to the boys, they have been class with it all.
“It’s not the sort of thing I ever thought would happen and go through. But we’ve put it behind us now. That’s the only thing you can do.
“We have got our jobs, you are getting your money at the end of the month to pay for your mortgage and help your families out. I think that’s what we’ve got to be grateful for at the end of the day.
“Outside of rugby, you realise who is there for you. That was the big eye opener, just how many people actually care for the club. A lot of people came forward trying to volunteer help, with a bit of advice etc.
“Going for coffee on the day we were waiting for news, random people were just asking if you were ok, it was quite nice hearing that. It’s bigger than rugby at that point. It’s about livelihoods.” Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
