Mal Malik, the former Cambridge University, Coventry and Rugby Lions flank forward, has stepped into the hot seat as acting-Chief Executive at the Lions.

He admits it is a tough role but says:

"I have sold part of my business in the leisure entertainment field and I had some free time. I am only too pleased to help out the club to the end of the season."

Malik has already addressed the first team players.

"I told them they are good enough to finish in the top five of the Allied Dunbar Second Division and that is our aim. We have several home matches coming up and if we can win those we can achieve that aim."

The former skipper is particularly keen to build for the future and his first task is to fill the void between the under-16s and the first team.

"It is crazy that we run a very successful minis set up to the age of seventeen and then there is nothing.

"All the young players we have developed leave for other clubs because there is nothing more for them at Webb Ellis Road. I intend to start a junior colts team and a senior colts team to run on from the minis, so that there is some continuity through to the first team.

"That side of the club will be purely amateur but the idea is to get some heart and soul back into the club. Our supporters have drifted away from us and we want to win them back."

And he paid tribute to the club chairman David Owen of Elisabeth The Chef.