Diss Rugby Club appoint Clive Bell as new head coach after releasing Nick Greenhall

russell.claydon@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 10:51, 01 January 2023

| Updated: 10:53, 01 January 2023

Diss Rugby Club will be under a new coaching regime when they return from the festive break after opting to relieve Nick Greenhall and his staff of their duties.

An announcement of the executive committee's decision, released yesterday, also included the news that former Ipswich and Ipswich YM coach Clive Bell will replace him.

Greenhall took over from Dave Smith following Diss' relegation from London 1 North ahead of the eventually Covid-curtailed 2019/20 season.

Nick Greenhall at what proved to be his last home game in charge of Diss, a 31-25 defeat to Ipswich YM on December 3 Picture: Mark Bullimore

He leaves the Blues third from bottom in the newly-formed Counties 1 Eastern Counties division with just three wins from their opening 12 matches, having finished one place above the bottom two in London 2 North East last term.

Greenhall's final match in charge proved to be a painful 50-14 derby defeat second-placed at Holt on December 10, a third defeat on the bounce.

The club statement read: "The club executive committee have taken the decision to release Nick Greenhall from his head coach role.

Nick Greenhall with the Diss players at the end of last season, his only completed campaign in charge due to Covid-19 Picture: Mark Bullimore

"We would like to thank Nick for his work on behalf of the club and we wish him well for the future.

We are pleased to announce that we have appointed Clive Bell, formerly of Ipswich and Ipswich YM rugby clubs, as the new head coach.

"We believe that Clive has the attributes to build sides for the years ahead and that making the change at this midpoint in the season will give the club the best opportunity to finish the season with the development under way.

"Clive will build his own coaching team and so we would like to thank Spencer Williams, Andy Price and Stu Hudson for the support they have given to the 1st XV.

"Clive has stated that how players are supported and managed will be a big part of his role.

"He will start with no preconceptions and wants to restore Diss RFC to its former standing.

"We would ask that all current, recent and potential senior players support our decision and attend the open training session 7pm on Tuesday, January 3."

Bell's first game in charge is set to be in Cambridge at Cantabrigian on Saturday.

Rugby Russell Claydon