Andy Bayliss has taken over as chairman of the minis and juniors section at Stow-on-the-Wold Rugby Club and he has brought with him a fresh approach and new ideas.

So says outgoing chairman Sean Clarke, who has stood down after six years.

As befits someone who works for a company that is famous for its vacuum cleaners, Bayliss has come in with a new broom and is brimful with ideas.

“I think he’ll be very good for the club,” said Clarke. “You need new ideas, new people, and Andy has got plenty of good ideas.”

Bayliss, who works for Dyson in Malmesbury and coached the club’s under-7s last season – his son Max played for them – will look after the under-8s in 2017/18.

“Because he’s a junior coach he’ll be able to keep much more in touch with the other coaches,” Clarke said. “Andy’s young and he’s got ideas for coordinating the roles of coaches so that they can go on courses, that sort of thing.”

Clarke will still be heavily involved in the club as well. He will coach the under-15s next season – his son Archie will play for them – and he is also head coach of the girls’ section, an area the club is looking to grow with both new players and coaches.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that centre James Holmes will again captain the club’s 1st XV next season.