No 'drastic changes' necessary, says new Saints CEO

Northampton Saints chief executive designate Julia Chapman has ruled out any "drastic changes of direction" when she takes over later this year.

She has been chosen to replace Mark Darbon, who is leaving to become CEO of the Royal & Ancient golf club, who organise the Open Championship.

Saints are on a high after winning their first Premiership title for 10 years and start the new season with a trip to Bath on 20 September.

"We had an amazing season last year but I don't think anyone is saying that everything was perfect all the time," Chapman told BBC Radio Northampton.

"It's a fantastic time to be taking over in many ways because it's very different set of challenges - it's (about) how do you take all the great things the club have achieved and find a way of continuing that.

"It's not about a turnaround, it's not about fixing problems necessarily, it's about looking at what we've done so well and seeing where we can continue, but also how we can get better."

Chapman will be stepping up from the role of chief operating officer and already has a close relationship with director of rugby Phil Dowson and his staff.

"One of the things I did in my current/previous role is work with the guys on the salary cap and the management of the playing budget," she said.

"There's always conversations about how we make everything fit within our budget - and we're a small club here, we're all on the same site, we all know each other, so the relationship is there."

Chapman praised Darbon's transparency and openness in his seven years at the club, as well as his collaborative approach with colleagues.

She said: "I think we have a reputation of being a really friendly, open, welcoming and honest club and that's something I definitely want to continue.

"No-one does a job like this in isolation, it's about building a great team around you and trusting those people to deliver."

Chapman said her first challenge would be to look at priorities for the coming season and then in the longer term.

"We have a really good strategy (in place) so this isn't about U-turning or drastic changes of direction, it's about looking where we are, how we need to adapt and hopefully bring some new ideas to the table as well," she continued.

Asked what she was most looking forward to in her role, Chapman replied: "Getting closer to our supporters and really understanding what it is that brings them here time and time again, what it is they love about the club.

"How do we translate that into bringing new people here to watch us - how do we keep supporters we've already got happy and how do we bring the joy of the game to a whole new generation?".