There’s a temporary pause as Lee Blackett makes an attempt to sum up the swirling feelings he continues to enjoy. One minute he used to be head trainer of one in every of England’s greatest golf equipment, the following he used to be unexpectedly coping with redundancy following Wasps’ abrupt monetary cave in in October. “You feel like you’re mourning someone,” he says, ultimately. “No one died and you’ve got to take into account that. But it did really feel like that.
Despite having had not anything to do with the trade aspect of the membership, he additionally discovered it laborious to not blame himself for the plight of his fellow group of workers and avid gamers after the membership used to be officially positioned into management with money owed totaling £95 million. “I used to be the top trainer. There’s not anything I can have executed about it however, for some explanation why, I felt responsible. It used to be an excellent membership we had and it used to be now not. I do not know why I felt responsible, I simply did.”
Perhaps the most poignant moment of all took place at Cardiff Airport last weekend. Blackett, who is now working as an attack coach at the Scarlets, was returning with his new team from Italy when they encountered Pau’s squad heading home after their Challenge Cup fixture against the Dragons. Stepping off the Pau bus was none other than Dan Robson, the former Wasps’ scrum-half who had to relocate to France to restart his career. “I went to shake hands with him and he just opened up for a hug. I think it just said a lot about where we were. It was nice.
With Christmas almost here it is impossible not to feel ongoing sympathy for all involved. Blackett is – or was – one of the new breed of Premiership head coaches: talented, empathic, positive-minded and committed to helping numerous young players achieve their rugby dreams. Just over a year ago he gave a couple of us a private tour of Wasps’ newly completed training complex in Henley-in-Arden, his enthusiasm and excitement matching the uplifting surroundings. From a performance standpoint, Wasps’ outlook looked encouragingly bright.
And now? Let’s just say Blackett has much to contemplate on his regular 360-mile round trip commute between Llanelli and his East Midlands home. This very weekend, for example, Wasps had been scheduled to face Worcester, also high-profile casualties of English rugby’s winter of financial discontent. Instead his former players are now trying to pick up the pieces elsewhere: the Willis brothers, Paolo Odogwu and Robson in France; Joe Launchbury in Japan, Alfie Barbeary at Bath, Charlie Atkinson at Leicester.
Initially Blackett could hardly bear to see his former charges wearing other jerseys – “I could not carry myself to look at some Premiership video games” – but he feels more at peace now, almost like a proud parent watching his offspring flourish out in the wider world . “At first it was hard to see the boys go elsewhere but then you see Charlie winning man of the match, Tom Willis performing outstandingly for Bordeaux … you’re proud of what they’re doing.
He will be forever grateful, too, to Dwayne Peele and the Scarlets for scooping him up in his hour of professional need. His wife Charlotte and young daughter Violet also remain a cherished source of love and joy. Even so, surely there must have been times when he has been tempted to howl into the motorway darkness at the unfairness of it all? There is another brief silence before Blackett explains why, for him, bitterness is not the answer. “Sometimes I pinch myself at what’s happened. But I’ve never felt angry. I don’t waste time on things in life that I can’t control. For me there’s no point getting angry or wasting energy. I have to deal with what’s happening next. I don’t know if that’s just a coach’s or a player’s mentality. You can learn from what’s gone but I’ve got to focus on the next job.”
There speaks a person who has been down a equivalent rocky highway sooner than, in his case when Rotherham Titans went bust in 2004. Blackett additionally cites the previous Wasps leader govt, Stephen Vaughan (now with Yorkshire CCC), and new proprietor Christopher Holland as excellent other folks nonetheless worthy of admire. If he has a lingering criticism it’s with the ones throughout English rugby who had been not up to supportive all the way through Wasps’ darkest days. “I am getting annoyed once I see positive agendas in the market. That’s the one factor I might query from time to time. I’m now not directing that at any individual in particular however we must at all times consider what is easiest for the sport and the folks inside of it.
“I absolutely perceive why persons are announcing there must be some roughly punishment. [when teams enter administration] nevertheless it has came about to others throughout the sport. Unfortunately Covid stuck up with numerous other folks. It used to be precisely the similar at Worcester. It has harm two giant golf equipment vastly. ,
Sadly there have been amber caution indicators flashing neatly sooner than the fateful Monday – “people were in shock” – when the entirety got here crashing down at Wasps. “There had been murmurings for a long time,” confirms Blackett. “We were not shouting it from the rooftops however we might now not executed any recruitment for a very long time. In my complete time at Wasps, we hadn’t spent the wage cap and were not ever going to. At some level we had been hopeful we had been going to spend it however we by no means were given just about it.”
So what might 2023 hold? It can only be hoped the personable, deserving Blackett, who only turned 40 last month, earns another top job at some stage. Wasps have been given permission to start afresh in the Championship next season and are currently talking about relocating to Damson Park, home of Solihull Moors FC. The Scarlets, with any luck, will also benefit from an attack coach with a point to prove. “I wanted to come down to Wales and get the respect of people who might not know me that well. I’ve loved every second of it. I just want to do as good a job as I possibly can for the Scarlets and we’ll see how that works out.”
If Blackett has one closing seasonal message for the English sport, despite the fact that, this is a cautionary one. “The sport as a spectacle is getting higher. But at this second in time rugby’s a interest for a wealthy guy or girl as a result of numerous those golf equipment don’t seem to be making any cash.” Spare a idea this Christmas for the ones whose lives have modified completely in 2022.