Defiant Cheeky breaks silence

EASTERN Province rugby boss Cheeky Watson has finally broken his silence, saying he will happily step aside if there is someone who could do a better job than him. “I have always taken the position that if there is someone to ride the horse into the sunset and do a better job, I would welcome him with open hands,” he said. Despite calls for his head because of cash-flow problems at the Kings, a buoyant Watson was in a fighting mood when he spoke about his recent trip to Australia to clinch a R200-million sponsorship deal, which he says is still on. Watson said he had no plans to quit. “I am not planning to step down,” he said at a media briefing to explain why SA Rugby Union (Saru) bosses stepped in and took control of the ailing Southern Kings on Tuesday – less than three months before the franchise plays its opening Super Rugby match. “I have never been bothered about negativity, but I am also not concerned about accolades,” Watson said. “When it turns, and indeed it will turn, I am not looking for accolades from anyone. We have to face this crisis head on. “I have been at pains to say at the beginning that this is not about me. “The Kings do not go about Cheeky Watson. The Kings go about the Kings and there is a collective that leads the Kings.” Asked about speculation on a possible vote of no confidence in his leadership at the union's annual meeting on November 28, Watson was unequivocal. “I am not holding on to this with all my life,” he said. “If someone wants to step in and take over the reins – by all means. This is not life and death to me.” Watson said he had returned from Australia even more confident that he would succeed in landing the biggest sponsorship in South African rugby history. “I am more confident now, absolutely,” he said. However, the EP Rugby president would not give a timeline on when he expected the cash to land.

“I think I have broken every timeline available in the world,” he said. “So I am a little bit nervous to come up with another timeline. “I would prefer not to give timelines, but I have come back a lot more confident.” Watson said some players had already been paid and the money from Saru was starting to come in. “It is important to note, as per the press release from Saru, that there has always been a Plan B in place,” he said. “Saru have always been waiting for my call to come in and stabilise. “When I made the call to Saru, it was important that we stabilise things, we stop any haemorrhaging and we focus on the preparation for Super Rugby. “We still have to get together with Saru to flesh out the details and have a round-table discussion on exactly what assistance they will give. “The Kings have also had very positive feedback from quite a few unions already that are making players available for next year. “The cash-flow problem, call it the Greek tragedy, because Greece had the same problem. “Companies, countries and businesses have cash-flow crises. It is up to leadership to manage it from there.” Watson said it had not been a difficult decision to call Saru. “Obviously, first prize is always to create your own destiny and write your own future.”