Rob Baxter: 'I can't make any comment on it. I think this is the problem'

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter has played a textbook straight bat from the MCC coaching manual in response to questions about the potential takeover of the club by an American investor.

It emerged on Wednesday that club chairman Tony Rowe, who earlier this year said he can’t keep funding the club, which is fourth in the Gallagher PREM, has called an extraordinary general meeting on May 7 to vote on the proposed takeover.

The club’s 700 members will be urged to back the sale to the mystery American, whose identity is being kept a closely guarded secret, known only to a small circle of people at Sandy Park.

Rowe, 77, who also serves as chief executive, is expected to stay on at the club, which lost £10.3 million last year, while there has also been speculation that a change of name could be on the cards.

Baxter, who recently signed a new contract to remain as director of rugby, believed to be linked to the sale, and who sits on the nine-member board of Exeter Rugby Group PLC, did his best on his weekly media call to straight-bat all questions on the subject.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Exeter Chiefs

07:05

18 Apr 26

Northampton

All Stats and Data

“I can’t make any comment on it. I think this is the problem. I’m not involved in the day-to-day negotiations or situations going on with whatever is happening.

“I think you guys are aware we’ve called an SGM. All the information that is there will be made available and will be put to the members first. That’s clearly how things have to work, and that will happen, and then any other things will come out.

“I’ve got to be very careful because, you know, I don’t want to suddenly see my words put in the press. Whether the minutiae of everything will be discussed in one meeting, I don’t know.

“What will be put forward to the members will be: this is the scenario, are you prepared for all this to move further forward? I’d imagine that’s what it would be.

“I’m not involved in the day-to-day process that’s going on. So that’s why I’m in a kind of no-comment situation,” said Baxter.