Jones steps back in line but out of RFU

Dec 5 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WEST PARK head coach Martin Jones will be returning to the touchline at Red Rocks on Saturday following a seven-week ban imposed by an RFU tribunal back in October.

Jones was judged to be guilty of verbal abuse to one of the officials during a National Three North game.

Jones is now in his fifth season with West Park and during his time he has guided them into the National League for the first time in the club’s history as well as winning the Lancashire Cup.

In recent years he has also been very active in the Merseyside region as one of the RFU development officers, a job he is stepping down from in the new year when he takes up an appointment with Liverpool City Council as the club development officer.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the RFU,” he said. “ But I couldn’t turn down this opportunity to further my career and I am really looking forward to the challenge.”

Park, after the dramatic win over at Bradford and Bingley last Saturday, have moved above the drop zone at last.

It was prop forward Liam McLoughlin’s last ditch try, the fourth of the afternoon, that also sealed a bonus point which could be vital later on in the season.

This Saturday the Merseysiders have a rest from their league commitments and entertain Vale Of Lune in the first round of the Lancashire Cup.

The Lancaster side are struggling in North Two West with only one win to their credit this season and sit next to the bottom of the table. With the season only three months old, they have sacked their coach and former player Mark Sutcliffe is coaching as well as being chairman.

Park should start as favourites and will be taking the game very seriously knowing that a win will put them in the semi-finals of a competition with a new format this season, with only eight clubs involved in the first round.