Dolphins and Otters reopen merger talks (From Bournemouth Echo)

Dolphins and Otters reopen merger talks

7:00am Thursday 27th August 2009 in

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Dorset’s top two swimming clubs could be just weeks or months from amalgamation following the reopening of merger talks.

Informal discussions between key members of Bournemouth Dolphins and Ferndown Otters have been taking place for some weeks but the merger plan has been given new impetus by the imminent departure of Dolphins’ head coach Graham Bassi to British Swimming’s intensive training centre at Swansea.

In a joint email this week, Dolphins’ and Otters’ chairmen Adam McCormack and Reuben Dear told their respective members: “There is commitment from the two committees and the coaching staff to work together on this and we look forward to sharing information with both clubs’ memberships in due course.”

The ASA’s head of talent development, Nick Sellwood, has pledged national governing body support after meeting representatives of both clubs in Bournemouth on Sunday.

Sellwood told the Echo: “The ASA has an investment programme for clubs that are undertaking significant redevelopment and this merger plan is a no-brainer.

“The ASA is prepared to provide some financial support for the redevelopment costs of a self-sustaining programme for the long-term success of the sport in the region.”

Support would also include access to 50m pool time and a range of support services at Portsmouth, where the ASA is about to launch one of its regional Beacon Programmes.

Sellwood added: “We are looking for long-term sustainability. It’s also about providing opportunities for the whole development of the sport, and educational opportunities.

“If this new programme is developed in the right way, I believe it will become one of the top 10 performance programmes in Britain.”

As a next step, Sellwood has asked the clubs to produce “a 21st century business model to maximise the opportunities for the development of athletes, coaches, teachers, officials and volunteers for the long-term future”.

All parties envisage the recruitment of a director of swimming or head coach to organise the programme and lead a team of coaches.

With Bassi heading for Swansea and Otters’ head coach Tony Watson ruling himself out of the top job due to his commitments as a PE teacher at Queen Elizabeth’s School, that would almost certainly have to be an outside appointment.

“At the moment I enjoy my teaching far too much to consider that role,” said Watson.

“But I certainly want to be involved and I don’t have a problem working under someone else as long as we have the right principles in place.”

Watson, who coached Dorset’s first Olympic swimmer Karen Legg as well as numerous other internationals, said: “I have made no secret that since 2000 one of my visions for the area was to get the strongest swimmers from the local clubs training together – and I think Poole and Seagulls should be part of that.

“People argue that competition is the best thing. Yes, it is, but there is plenty of competition not far away.

“The top swimmers need to compete against each other in training sets.

“The intensity of other people training with you drags you up.

“Feeding off other talented athletes is what is needed to be successful over a number of years.”

The new indoor pool at Canford School is another boost for the merger plans.

Ferndown have negotiated to use that pool for six morning and three afternoon sessions a week from October, adding to the training options.

Unlike many similar mergers in other parts of the country, where the focus is on either shared training sessions or coming together for competitions, the Bournemouth-Ferndown plan is for a total amalgamation enabling swimmers not only to train together but to compete as a club in every competition.

In league swimming, this would probably make them title contenders not only at regional level but in national finals.

“I’m very excited – this will be the best thing for swimming in this area,” said Adam McCormack.

“With two clubs so close together and both having achieved such high standards, the swimmers and coaches should be working together.

“I think there is a good momentum now and hopefully we can pull it together in three months.”

Reuben Dear said: “If we can combine resources, hopefully we can make a centre of excellence on this part of the south coast and challenge the best in the country.

“The vision is to have one club that produces world class swimmers.

“Once we have a business proposition to give to members, we will call special meetings and the two memberships will have the opportunity to have their say.

“We would like to progress as quickly as possible but we also want to do it methodically to make sure we don’t miss anything.

“We are very fortunate to have not only Tony Watson but two brilliant young assistant coaches in Emma Hirst (Ferndown) and Sam Woodward (Bournemouth) and that’s really exciting.”

Dear added that although other local clubs had not yet been approached, the door was open to their eventual involvement.

“We want to work with clubs like Seagulls and Poole but I don’t know what part they would want to play,” he said.

Sellwood added: “I think we need to get these two clubs together first.”

Bassi, who was expected to hand in his notice after returning from his holiday yesterday (Wednesday), said: “There is an outstanding opportunity to produce a performance centre for all four major clubs in the area and I think they should get themselves together.”

Merger talks were first begun three years ago but “suspended” at Bournemouth Dolphins’ request.