Brown looking forward for Scottish (From Surrey Comet)

Brown looking forward for Scottish

11:25am Wednesday 28th July 2010 in

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London Scottish player-coach James Brown reckons the club can only look forward in the wake of former director of rugby Brett Taylor’s departure.

Scrum-half Simon Amor has stepped up as player-head coach with his 32-year-old fly-half officially becoming a member of his coaching staff.

The re-shuffle has also brought with it a host of new faces to the playing staff and, with the start of the new National Division One fast-approaching, Brown believes the only way is up.

“I’ve been in situations similar to this before where there have been changes made, but in sport you have to look forward,” he said.

“You cannot afford to look back because the past is behind you. We have moved on and are ambitious to get promoted.

“I have been coaching the backs in defence and attack over the last two years on an unofficial basis anyway, so nothing much has really changed apart from my title.

“Things have started well. We’ll playing the two top sides in Scotland in pre-season and then London Welsh, which will be the real acid test of where we want to be.”

Brown quit full-time rugby to switch to the Athletic Ground two seasons ago, with the plan being to combine playing part-time rugby with other business interests.

But the former Worcester Warriors professional admits his outlook has changed significantly.

“I had looked at other options work wise, but rugby has pulled me back in,” he added.

“I love the game and myself and Simon have big ambitions to take our coaching further.”

And despite Brown now having a key management role to play he insists new number ten 19-year-old Craig Ratford, who led Barking to the Division Two South title last term, will get a fair crack.

“Craig was part of the London Wasps academy and we have kept an eye on his progress ever since,” he said.

“If you want to be successful you have to plan ahead for three years and Craig is very much part of that thinking.

“He has already shown what he is capable of and we need competition in every position, even for me.

“No player can player every single game in this league so Craig will get his chance. It is a tough competition and we are very much perparing with that in mind.”