Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson was appointed in September © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Mark Dodson

Teams: Scotland

Recently appointed Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson is determined to put "rugby back at the core" of his organisation.

Dodson, who took on the role in September, has made an immediate impact at Murrayfield having opened the SRU chequebook for salary rises and new deals at Edinburgh and Glasgow and secured the services of coach Scott Johnson who will join national boss Andy Robinson's backroom staff next year. But he has played down his influence while underlining his vision for the future of Scottish Rugby.

"We've done nothing that is extraordinary yet," the 50-year-old told The Scotsman. "We've just tried to put the supporter first and make people realise that rugby is at the heart of what we do. We have invested in the pro teams and given confidence back to the people who are at the coal-face of Scottish rugby."

Dodson has also thanked SRU performance director Graham Lowe for his efforts in the re-signing of over 20 young players. "We wanted to show these guys how important they are to the future of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Scottish rugby," said Dodson, "and I think that has been hugely beneficial to the game. It's given both the squads confidence and I think cheered people up by providing a strong sign that we are putting rugby first, which has fed through on to the performances on the pitch."

However, an offer in excess of that put on the table by English Premiership side Sale was not enough to prevent star lock Richie Gray heading south. "At the same time, we're not being silly with money," he added. "Because you sign players early and add new players doesn't mean you have opened a blank cheque-book. We have paid market rates and haven't overpaid for anybody. Richie was a one-off.

"We have been strong on investing in young Scottish talent, but, at the same time, the coaches have been clear on the need for experience to help these boys develop, and win, and so we have supported that too and you've seen that with Glasgow. You will see it with Edinburgh too."

Dodson is also aware that revitalising Scottish Rugby is not an easy fix. "I have not been here long, but, with the help of the staff here, the first thing that I identified is that you have got to create a virtuous circle in the professional game," he said. "We start with the players on the pitch, get the teams to win, which puts bums on seats, which creates revenue and spectator excitement, which creates ancillary revenue, and that gets sponsors excited and wanting to become associated with the teams and the sport.

"That interest and success starts to encourage broadcasters and you get television revenue, and before you know it you are actually creating a surplus that you can re-invest into the teams. At the moment we're at the first step of creating that virtuous circle.

"I recognise that it was a difficult challenge and remains one. I'm not saying it's going to be easy or that we'll pull it off next week, but the more successful we are the brighter people feel about Scottish rugby, the more warm feeling they get and enjoy the experience, the more our teams win.

"...We don't have all the answers here. We've got a difficult job. But I am excited about what is ahead of us. It's going to be a bumpy ride and we will have stormy times, but we can deal with that if we are together as a group, kicking the ball in the same direction and all understand what the strategic goals are."