Clubs envisage no problems with Cattermole
July 9, 2001

England's Premiership clubs are confident that the election of Graeme Cattermole as new Rugby Football Union chairman will not block the eagerly-awaited agreement on the future of the sport.

Cattermole ousted Brian Baister at the RFU Annual General Meeting in Birmingham yesterday, sparking fears that old wounds could be re opened in the on-going power battle between the elite clubs and the game's governing body.

Backed by Fran Cotton and seven county RFU's, Cattermole believes the grassroots of the game have been ignored and is vowing to place them at the top of his agenda.

This has caused alarm among the Premiership clubs, who fear that an agreement which had been reached with Baister and RFU chief executive Francis Baron and is currently being drafted in long form for formal presentation, could be put at risk.

At various times in the long-running dispute, the clubs have threatened to break away to form their own competition and there is a serious risk of the situation turning nasty should Cattermole make any attempt to change the deal.

``Everyone wants this deal to go through,'' said Howard Thomas, acting chief executive of English First Division Rugby. ``There shouldn't be any hiccups now. Graeme was part of the RFU Management Board which approved this agreement, so there is no reason to think he will change it.

``We have been here before and it has come to nothing, but there is an intense focus and determination to make it work this time.''

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