For the supporters, it’s a first day of wondering what’s new, rather than being content with the same old same old.  And for John Fletcher, it’s the first official day in charge, having taken the pre-season training up to this point.

Some will point at the timing of the decision, just 16 days before the first league match at Northampton, and say that it hasn’t left enough time for the club to adapt.  Rubbish, it’s been adapting throughout the summer, from when it first became apparent that Rob was running in an ever decreasing field and looking more and more likely to be getting the job.  Every Newcastle Falcons team in 2006-07, be it at Premiership or Development level, will have John Fletcher’s mark running through it, and with Peter Walton, Steve Black and Bob Morton running alongside him, we can look forward to the season with a different outlook to that we had before.  The element of surprise, shall we say.

With games immediately - first and development XV at Glasgow tonight - the focus is already on to see what's going to happen in this brave new world.  It also almost seems fitting that his first league game in charge will be against his old club, and give the high profile of the previous Director of Rugby, that it’s the first Sky game of the season.  The rugby world, if it wasn’t already watching, will be now.

3,984 days of Rob Andrew.  Day one (of many, we hope) for John Fletcher.

Good luck John, we’re right behind you.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS