The scrutiny on Gloucester’s head coach, George Skivington, intensified on Friday evening as the club’s fanbase aired their frustration online following a 25-19 loss on the road to Newcastle Red Bulls in their Gallagher PREM battle at the bottom of the table.
This outcome represented Newcastle’s inaugural league victory of the season after nine fixtures, a detail that only exacerbated the displeasure among the Cherry and Whites’ supporters. Gloucester displayed some late resolve at Kingston Park, but for over an hour, they were predominantly inferior against an opponent positioned at the league’s foot.
Gloucester has now managed to win only one PREM fixture out of nine attempts this season.
Online reactions rapidly transitioned from mere annoyance to explicit demands for change. Neil Fissler, the transfer expert for RugbyPass, offered a stark assessment, stating: “One has to question how much longer George Skivington will remain. Gloucester performed terribly for 65 minutes and only started to make progress when Newcastle grew weary.”
Supporters echoed this sentiment, with a prominent Gloucester fan account posting: “Decisions must be made, and swiftly. The present coaching team, specifically George Skivington and Dominic Waldouck, should be dismissed. Failing this, serious accountability questions must be directed at Alex Brown and others. This situation has endured for an excessive duration.”
Not all comments focused solely on the match’s outcome.
Another supporter contended that the signs had been apparent long before Friday night: “This away defeat at Newcastle, on a chilly winter Friday night, should not be the principal reason for Skivington and his Gloucester squad’s potential departure. Numerous other clubs have experienced losses there previously. Tonight’s result was foreseeable. The underlying issues predate this event.”
Others were less lenient, implying that a standard of low expectations had permeated Kingsholm. One post declared: “For several years now, there’s been an honestly shameful degree of acceptance by many concerning the absolute incompetence from Skivington and his team (and more senior figures). Individuals suggesting it’s in the club’s best interest to simply buckle down and ensure its survival are speaking utter nonsense.”
A different supporter added: “Skivington appears to be a commendable person; however, he has been in this role for five years, and we are currently in the worst standing we’ve experienced in the professional era. Surely, his position is now untenable, and if not, what does that communicate about the club’s aspirations or the absence thereof?”
Behind the scenes, there’s a growing belief that Gloucester might consider appointing a director of rugby to supervise Skivington rather than implement an immediate change, but Friday evening’s loss only amplified the impression that the current arrangement is nearing its conclusion.
CEO Alex Brown had sought to reassure the fanbase in an open communication released earlier in the week, prior to Friday night’s defeat, acknowledging that recent displays had “fallen short of the benchmarks we hold for ourselves.”
The former Glaws second-row described injuries as “significantly disruptive” and indicated that results left fans seeking clarity on direction, emphasizing that “a substantial amount of work is being conducted discreetly.” Currently, the Cherry & Whites are without the services of Seb Blake, Will Butler, Josiah Edwards Giraud, Caolan Englefield, Jack Innard, Will Joseph, Max Llewellyn, Ben Loader, Jack Mann, Ben Redshaw, Rob Russell, Jack Singleton, Harry Taylor, Will Trenholm and Lions star Tomos Williams.
Brown referenced the upcoming acquisitions of Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, and Dan Robson, admitted the squad had been “less seasoned,” and stated the injury situation was “largely unconnected… extremely unfortunate.” He underscored the academy’s contribution as “essential” and stressed that “a lack of dedication was not an issue” during a challenging period.
“We maintain our unified resolve to witness Gloucester succeed, and we will continue our efforts to ensure more prosperous times lie ahead.”
