Chiefs Charles Jillings and Mark Evans must fall on their swords
Chairman Charles Jillings and Mark Evans, the chief executive, must resign if Harlequins are to repair the serious damage caused by the latest revelations about "Bloodgate".
By their actions, which show serious errors of judgement, Jillings and Evans have made their positions untenable and co-owner Duncan Saville should use his authority to install Jason Leonard as chairman, Ian McGeechan as director of rugby and ask Tony Copsey to leave his role as London Wasps chief executive and return to Quins.
This radical surgery is the only way Quins can truly distance themselves from the scandal and start to repair their battered reputation. Jillings and Evans will insist they have to continue to steer the club through this crisis but thanks to the transcription of Tom Williams' appeal, we have learned that both men tried to pressurise the player into restricting his appeal to save the club from further punishment.
McGeechan is already being lined up to replace Dean Richards, who quit over the fake blood issue, and the Lions icon's standing in the game will immediately appease worried sponsors, fans and the wider game despite claims on Quins supporters' web sites that he has "history" in terms of Wasps frequency of uncontested scrums in recent seasons - that charge pales into insignificance compared to five crushed blood capsules.
Leonard is a rugby icon who is already a key member of the influential clubs and RFU game board and is hugely popular among the Quins membership, who see him regularly at matches, and he could also provide a much needed public face in these trying times.
Copsey worked alongside Evans to create the current success story off the field at Quins, targeting the local community and ensuring the "sold out" notices were regularly needed for home games. He moved to Wasps to become chief executive, a role that he should now adopt at the Stoop if Evans falls on his sword.
That is a big "if" because Evans is a fighter by nature, a man who does not lack confidence, but he has to accept that the club are floundering, and his own position has been severely compromised.
