OLD Grovians have shelved their plan to have a temporary clubhouse at Elm Tree Farm.

Dan Nulty, assistant coach of the Yorkshire Division Two club, explained: Sadly the temporary clubhouse facility fell through due to spiralling costs, and it would have meant us using all our funds to just get the building moved, let alone refurbishing it and putting services and a car park in.

"We will be looking at other options over the next 12 months."

In addition, the Apperley Bridge-based club have lost three influential players in skipper Christian Baines, who has signed for Yorkshire Division One Bradford Salem, former skipper Chris Blackhall, who has decided to move on after an injury-hit two seasons, and Adam Driver, who is seeking more game-time.

Nulty said: "It is really disappointing to lose three players of that quality but we really wish them really well and hope they all come back better players.

"We are hoping to announce some new additions but as they haven't officially signed as yet ,we will keep them under our hats for the time being.

"What it does do is allow some of the fringe players from the last two years to step up to the plate.

"We also have players that were influential in our Yorkshire Division Three championship side hopefully coming back, having missed all of last year.

"In addition, we hope to see back Ollie Pratt, who we lost in October last year to injury for the rest of the season.

"He is still on the mend and it may be a few months yet before we see him back.

"Tom Gough, who broke his leg at Knottingley, looks set to return, probably around October time, so again it allows a scrum half to show us what they can do.

"Alex Masterton and Aaron Magee will hopefully be joining us once they are back from Australia too.

"However, it looks like Adam Weaving, who was excellent two years ago but only managed a few games last year is having to retire.

"I'm gutted for him as he is a quality player. I'm hoping he is someone who will stick around and impart some of his knowledge on the younger lads coming through."

Old Grovians' change of personnel is likely to mean a change of strategy, but Nulty has been honest enough to admit that ge isn't the only one with ideas.

He said: "We are trying to change the way we play this year, making clear our strategies in attack and defence.

"I've been really impressed with how the players have not only taken it on board so far but they are adding to it and coming up with their own ideas – in some cases ones that are far better than mine.

"With the ability they have and the work ethic the players are instilling in themselves, I could actually be making myself redundant!

"With the loss of the physical presence of Christian in particular, we are going to have to rely on guile and lines of running and attempting to win all the battles on the pitch that involve no talent, and that is the focus for pre-season."

Nulty added: "If there are any players out there who have left school, come back from university or simply fallen out of love with the game and not played for a few years, please come down – you have a real opportunity to shape the culture of this club and make it the kind of rugby club you want to enjoy.

"We aren't set in our ways, we just want to learn, play an exciting brand of rugby and respect everyone involved in the game, not just at our club, and enjoy ourselves on and off the pitch.

"This is a social club and will remain so, and with a group of good people in place on the committee we hope we can grow it into a club that is around for a long time to come."

Interested players, or those merely seeking more information, should contact Dan on Facebook or dannulty@hotmail.co.uk.

* The departing Christian Baines is down to the final six in The Rugby Paper's nominations for best amateur player of 2015-16, with the winner due to be announced in early September.

Nulty said: "It was a richly deserved nomination for helping Old Grovians stay in Yorkshire Two last year."