Rugby Union: We have set the bar so high says Bedford Blues chairman

Bedford Blues chairman Geoff Irvine believes that the stunning 2012/13 season has raised the expectations of the club’s fans.

Blues gave big favourites Newcastle Falcons an almighty scare before being edged out over two legs in the Championship final, and they also made the last four of the British Irish Cup during a strong campaign on the field.

All of that was achieved with a budget that is meagre when compared with many rivals and Irvine knows that continued success makes conversations about how much further the club can go inevitable.

For the chairman though, the Blues are still punching above their weight.

“The boys are consistently performing and their achievements have set the bar so high,” said Irvine.

“We could have a reasonable season next year but after what we’ve done it could be looked upon as being a failure.”

Bedford reached the Championship final after three semi-final disappointments in the three previous years.

They gave heavy favourites Newcastle a real fright, cutting the gap between the two sides to just three points at one stage of the second leg at Kingston Park.

“At the end when the Newcastle team were getting their medals, I counted the number of players they had who hadn’t played and there were about 30 of them,” Irvine said. “We had about five, and that’s the difference in squad size.

“Their chairman told me that we spend our money wisely. Their squad probably cost five times as much as ours but can you say it is five times as good?”

Irvine said that fans would get the chance to thank the team for their efforts.

“The season may have ended in disappointment but we have to take the positives,” he said.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22765007

Rugby Union: We have set the bar so high says Bedford Blues chairman