Aviva Premiership
Dickens steps up for Saints
ESPN Staff
November 21, 2012
Saracens' Alan Dickens watches on, Saracens v Gloucester, Premiership, Vicarage Road, England, September 23, 2009
Northampton have turned to Alan Dickens on a temporary basis © PA Photos
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Players/Officials: Alan Dickens | Paul Grayson | Jim Mallinder
Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Northampton Saints boss Jim Mallinder has drafted in Alan Dickens to take on Paul Grayson's former role on a temporary basis.

Grayson left the Saints on Tuesday by mutual consent and Dickens, who is their academy manager, will take on his responsibilities for an interim period. Dickens has a strong rugby pedigree, having played for 10 years in the Premiership, and has previously run out for Northampton, Saracens, Leeds Carnegie and the Sale Sharks.

Dickens will now look to impress the Saints hierarchy with a view to taking on the role full-time and Mallinder is looking forward to working with him.

"Alan will come in and change things up a bit," Mallinder told the Northampton Chronicle & Echo. "He's got his own ideas, he's his own man, he's doing really well with the academy and the Wanderers, who've had a great season, and we'll see how that goes.

"I'm sure Alan would love the job, and why wouldn't you? I've known Alan for quite a long time. He was with me at Sale as a player, he's been to Saracens, he's moved around a little bit.

"He's taken this role working with the academy and now he's loving stepping up. He's doing a good job this week, stepping into the mix and I'm sure he'll give it his very best shot."

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