DAVIES AIMS HIGHER

The Llanelli native will leave behind a club with a better blueprint, both on paper and in their heads, psychologically, to maintain their status just a rung below the National League where Heath have survived their promotion.

But Worthing are sad that Davies, the vanguard of their two seasons of consecutive promotion, has found at this moment his opportunity to return to the level at which he began coaching, albeit for half a season, at Havant, with Tony Weadon, 1998-99.

Davies was five seasons at Roundstone Lane and in charge of the first team for the last three.

Club chairman Allan Imrie explained: "Part of our agreement with Ian was that we'd help him to coach at the highest level he could but we had a three-year plan with him and only two years have been completed.

"That's more than a little disappointing for us with the pre-season about to start. But we'll manage. We've got two or three people who may come in and work with us as a team.

"Ian did a very good job for us at 1st XV level. We've had a fantastic period and done especially well. Ian's learned a lot from us '” and not just about rugby. But he needed to take the opportinity at Haywards Heath. He had no choice.

"It's time to move on, I guess. It's probably right for both parties."

Davies two seasons ago became a full-time club development officer as well as head of rugby at Roundstone Lane. It is his role to take rugby into schools and bring schoolchildren out to the game.

Davies succeeded former star first-team wing and scrum-half Tim Mackew as first-team coach. His first season (2001-2002) was the first of two straight championship-winning seasons. Worthing won Division 3SE and the Sussex Trophy, beating Chichester 19-13 at East Grinstead in the final, although they lost to Tunbridge Wells in the first round of the National Cup '” Davies' first competitve game in command.

Mackew, to get Worthing poised for success, had the previous season taken the first team to third place and to second the season before that.

In Davies' first season, Worthing won London 2, lost to Haywards Heath in the Sussex Trophy semi-finals but before that put themselves on the national map with Powergen National Cup shock home victories over division-higher Norwich, Thanet Wanderers and Old Colfeians before going out to National League side North Walsham.

This season, his Worthing side finished sixth in their maiden campaign in London 1 and, in effect, won the Sussex Trophy back from a fixture congestion-weakened Haywards Heath side. Two players, Paul Cox and Charlie McGowan, progressed towards National League level by joining London Welsh at the end of the season.

What, for Davies, were the highspots? "Our Sussex trophy win over Haywards Heath the season before last (25-21 at home]. The win at Sidcup (14-5] to secure the first league title. Such a game of controlled rugby, it was marvellous. The demolition of Norwich (53-14] in the National Cup with Coulson and Adam Holloway outstanding. It was our first game since promotion from two divisions below them and it set up our second promotion season to come."

How does Davies assess his own contribution at Roundstone Lane? "In terms of playing standard, I like to think I've left a stronger structure where players are playing good rugby, but also winning rugby. Tim Mackew felt it was the winning aspect of rugby Worthing couldn't produce. They now know how to win games.

"Hopefully some of the junior team coaches know more about what they are doing and have a different outlook. And schools can now see us a resource, for information and assistance. Ben Coulson is now in charge of schools rugby and whoever takes over from me will find, in Ben, that he's got a good man working alongside him."

What are Davies' reasons for leaving Worthing? "To get back into the National League. I've been talking to a few people in the RFU and I've been advised that to progress as far as I can as a coach I need to do so through the National League. This is the next stepping stone.

"To go was a difficult and very emotional decision. You don't know if there is going to be a similar offer on the table in a year's time. You have to move on when you can. This means I can progress to somewhere in the same county without having to relocate or move house."

Which players' progress have given him the most satisfaction? "First-team second-row Charlie McGowan: he really tested my ability as a coach on and off the field, especially in terms of his fitness and psychology.

"Second-team loosehead prop Andrew Waite: he had come on massively through hard work and determination. He was their Player of the Year after being an unsung hero.

"And Daniel Peach, a junior scrum-half, the son of Martin. He's going on the Sussex Under-16s tour to New Zealand. He's got a fabulous future ahead of him."

So is Davies about to walk off to Heath, soccer-style, with his best Worthing players? "No, none. I don't think that would be fair on the Worthing club. I've got too much respect for them to do that. Some players may drift away through a lack of "Worthingness", others may decide to follow me. I'm not going to pressurise anyone. And some others might want to see the back of me!

"I think I've left the club with foundations to go forward. It's probably time for both parties to move on."