Harlequins admits stain of 'Bloodgate' has lingered

Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans admits the Bloodgate stain will never be permanently removed from the club's reputation.

But Evans believes Harlequins can finally start putting a troubled year behind them now Conor O'Shea has taken over as director of rugby.

The hotseat was vacated seven months ago when Dean Richards received a three-year worldwide ban for masterminding the Bloodgate scandal.

Harlequins have operated for most of this season in a holding pattern, with head coach John Kingston running affairs until O'Shea served out his notice at the English Institute of Sport.

O'Shea takes charge of his first game this weekend when Harlequins face Bath - coincidentally, the other Guinness Premiership club tainted by scandal last summer - at The Recreation Ground.

Evans said: "You would be incredibly naive to think (the Bloodgate stigma) will ever disappear completely. Things like that don't.

"They become part of history and, like good or bad seasons, are woven into the fabric of any club.

"This is another staging post, that's the best way of putting it.

"What it does do is help the players and staff look forwards. I think it has been really difficult to compete in such a competitive arena with a key component missing."

O'Shea takes over with Harlequins eighth in the Premiership - but he has spoken to Richards and been encouraged by what he has found.

"I've spoken to Dean. He did an enormous amount for this club, He's an icon and a legend of English rugby," said O'Shea.

"Of course I rang him. He's still incredibly passionate about Harlequins and it was even more striking when I met him. It was an expensive cup of coffee it has to be said.

"Would you be shocked if I said the club's in great condition? The energy and enthusiasm is extraordinary. There's been a huge amount done in recent years in terms of breeding home-grown talent," he said.

"Historically in the Premiership, an English-based squad has proved the most successful route. What I've seen is a squad with a great age profile and great energy.

"We are moving to a new training base at the Surrey Sports Complex in Guildford that is second to none, an absolutely incredible place.

"I wouldn't comment on the past, I'm just looking forward to Saturday. You lose games, you lose confidence. You see that in any walk of life and that's happened here.

"But this is a squad which, in my opinion, is going to mature and fulfil its potential in the next couple of years."

O'Shea could have done without his first public appointment as Harlequins boss coinciding with confirmation England winger David Strettle is leaving for Saracens at the end of the season.

Evans bridled at the suggestion Strettle had been unsettled by the events of the last year and insisted it was down to simple economics.

"Virtually all the main players renewed but we knew we'd lose one of them," said Evans.

"Pulling a squad in for under £4million is a challenge. Ugo Monye was offered double the money to go to France and he showed incredible loyalty to stay here.

"The squads are going to contract in the Premiership. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see some players in the Guinness Premiership finding out in April or May that they're going to be playing in the Championship next season. That's the way the market is."