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Page last updated at 17:03 GMT, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 18:03 UK

Saracens chief exec Edward Griffiths wants 'impact'

Edward Griffiths
Griffiths outlines the "Sarries vision" before the Premiership final

Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths says the club can become an even stronger force in English rugby.

Despite his side falling short in a dramatic Premiership final with Leicester on Saturday, Griffiths is keen to look at the bigger picture.

He told BBC Three Counties Radio: "We wanted to win but what we want is to be a club that has a positive impact.

"We just want to become a bigger, better club that brings a bigger impact into the lives of more people."

This season has seen a marked improvement for Saracens, who have gone from ninth-placed finishers last year to runners-up 12 months later.

"It's been a fairytale season and not all fairytales have a happy ending, but the players will be back in a month and we'll start over again," added Griffiths.

The upturn in fortunes has coincided with Brendan Venter's first season as director of rugby at the club.

The South African was banned from attending the game at Twickenham after a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel found him guilty of antagonising Leicester fans when the two sides met at Welford Road earlier in the season.

It is an issue that has caused a rift between the sport's governing body and Saracens, with Griffiths criticising the decision at the time and continuing to stick by his opinion.

"Imagine working for something all year, reaching a showpiece occasion and then not even being allowed to attend the game," he said.

"Conventionally with a touchline ban the coach has no contact with the team on the day.

"Brendan was not even allowed to be at the ground, as some people put it he had a kind of house arrest in St Albans.

"But worse things have happened in the world and he managed to join us for the post-match celebration."



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see also
Leicester 33-27 Saracens
29 May 10 |  English
Venter final ban appeal rejected
26 May 10 |  Saracens
Watford in dark on Saracens deal
08 Sep 10 |  Saracens
Saracens and RFU row over Venter
21 May 10 |  Saracens


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