Ebbw Vale coach Mike Ruddock will lead his squad into the new season and promises that he and his players “will not walk away from the challenge.” The cash-strapped Gwent club have been forced to make savage cuts in all areas to make the start of the new season.
“It is a very sad time for Ebbw Vale, contemplating shutting the clubhouse and laying people off, including players,” said Ruddock.
“However, the people of Ebbw Vale desperately want the club to survive -whatever that takes – and that is what we are now doing.
“As the coach, in the short term I am devastated by the cuts. But we are all professionals and get paid to do a job. Now we will knuckle down and get on with doing just that.
“There has always been a tremendous resolve at the club, that is what got us through to the semi-finals of the Principality Cup and the quarter-finals of the European Shield last season.
“And I am convinced that those that remain at the club will be totally committed to the Ebbw Vale cause, to ensure that we are as competitive as possible. No-one will walk away from the challenge.”