NEW Northwich Rugby Club chairman Andy Naylor has spoken of his aims.

He was elected at the club's recent annual meeting, to replace Ken Jones who has retired from the role.

Ken had been chairman for the past six years and steered the club through the most turbulent period in its history with the Covid crisis, the escalating costs of Northwich playing within the higher National League Level 5 and the arson attack on their clubhouse at Moss Farm last October.

Naylor paid tribute to Ken Jones and other retiring members for all their contributions.

He also thanked all the volunteers of the club, club members and club sponsors, saying: “I feel very honoured and excited to have been appointed chairman and I want to pay tribute to all the members and sponsors of this brilliant Club.”

The immediate priority of the new chairman was to extend the club's executive team. which is made up of some very talented people from within the Club.

Naylor said: “We are all united in wanting to make this club the very best that it can be.

“Northwich Rugby Union Football Club is undoubtedly the ‘Team of the Town’ and together with the new executive team we will now do all we can to help the club fully develop and deliver on its core value of inclusivity and working for the benefit of the wider community of Northwich.”

Northwich RUFC's focus is now on the renovation and repairs to their clubhouse which remains in ruins due to last year’s arson attack.

The club is actively working together with Cheshire West and Chester Council to ensure that the clubhouse is fully re-opened in time for the commencement of the new season at the start of September.