A rallying call has gone out to Gloucester fans to support club coach Philippe Saint Andre after he threatened to quit the club if the Kingsholm faithful wanted him out.

Having had a disastrous start to the new Zurich Premiership season in which last year's third placed club remain pointless after two matches, the former French wing has said he does not need the money he is paid by the club to live and will leave if he is unpopular.

The West Country side's problems have been compounded by a horrendous injury list which meant 15 players were sidelined for last weekend's home defeat against Sale although one or two players are close to making a return.

And with Jason Little, who was granted a work permit this week, on the way Gloucester, who appointed former All Black lock Ian Jones as their captain this season, are desperate to turn their fortunes around in time for the Aussie centre's arrival.

The Gloucester fanzine, The Kingsholm Chronicle, has urged all 1,000 members on its news list this week to email them in support of Saint Andre.

"Philippe Saint-Andre has told The Citizen that he will leave
the club if the supporters want him to but here at the Chronicle
we can't think of anything more disastrous than if he were to abandon ship. You won't need me to remind you what he has achieved in such a short space of time," it said.

The Chronicle plans to hand all the messages of support on to Saint Andre in time for this weekend's away game against Rotherham, a game which surely represents their best opportunity to grab their first points of the season and one which could ease the pressure on the coach.

Jawad Djoudi, the Gloucester hooker who was sent off in the first game against Saracens for butting will go before an RFU disciplinary committee today - he faces a lengthy ban.