In the end there was only one banner, fluttering away in the top tier of the Frank Adams Stand. Even the message it bore was slightly hard to decipher, although it did include a clearly disdainful reference to “franchise rugby”. As riot incitements go, it was hardly going to precipitate tear gas or massed stand-offs in the car park.
Such is the nature of middle-class sporting protests in Buckinghamshire, even when the spectre of a club upping sticks and moving to Coventry suddenly becomes reality. There also seemed to be a collective acceptance there are no financially viable alternatives to Wasps’ impending switch to the Ricoh Arena. The club is buzzing off to the Midlands and no amount of bitter protests can stop the move.
The subdued mood before kick-off, as well as the hunched shoulders of the congregation heading up the road to the ground, will have been familiar to anyone who has seen their local church or village pub close down. There is sadness, obviously, but also a sense of weary inevitability.
Professional sport was never designed to thrive down the bottom of an industrial estate in High Wycombe on a quiet Sunday lunchtime. There was, nevertheless, a genuine air of relief among the club’s hierarchy that there had been no angry scenes to match the disquiet on social media earlier in the week. ITV had been denied permission to film their highlights show at the stadium just in case it all kicked off; in the event the only disruption to their work would have been the Wasps players circling the ground after the game and receiving a standing ovation from their existing loyal followers.
Before the game no one knew quite what to expect, with the programme notes of the chief executive, Nick Eastwood, acknowledging the contrasting emotions the club’s fans have been feeling. “We are truly sorry for the angst and upheaval many of you have felt over the past few days … but I am happy to look any supporter in the eye and say that moving to the Ricoh Arena is far and away the best option for the long-term success of the club,” wrote Eastwood.
Afterwards he sounded even more grateful for their understanding and continued support. “I am relieved and hugely appreciative of the fans for getting behind the team and separating the decision from the playing side of things. The whole process has been very difficult … we weren’t able to say anything before because, if things came out, it was made clear the deal probably wouldn’t happen.”
Within the playing group the need to stay professional was always going to be uppermost, although how many players will prefer to train in Coventry every day rather than west London remains to be determined. “We all know its a massive move for the club,” admitted Tom Varndell, their England international winger. “We knew the club needed to progress and find a new stadium and that’s what we’ve done. It’s very important the fans get behind us and hopefully make the trip to Coventry.”
As so often, however, it was Dai Young, the club’s director of rugby, who said what everyone else was thinking. “It hasn’t been a normal week, that’s fair to say …there’s never a dull day here. We’re excited about playing in Coventry – anyone who has seen it can’t deny it’s a fantastic arena – but mostly we’re just relieved that our future is secure.
“I totally understood the frustration of all the supporters in the early part of the week but once it was explained to everyone that it was the only realistic option I think they’ve been intelligent enough to react in the right way. I thought they were outstanding.
“We never heard anything about protests … I think it was pretty much media-driven. It was a bit raw early in the week but I’ve seen a real change in attitudes. It’s very hard to attract players when there’s a big black cloud of financial insecurity hanging over the club. Now we’re looking forward to a bright, sustainable future. From our point of view it’s onwards and upwards.”
