Will Croker says it is a compliment clubs from English rugby’s second tier are looking at his players after Karim Lynch joined Ampthill.
Reliable full-back Lynch was a mainstay in the promotion-winning Bournemouth side last season with his booming clearance kicks and ‘Serevi-like hitch step.’
But Championship new boys Ampthill, who won National One last season, have swooped to re-sign him, and Croker wishes him good luck for the future.
Croker said: “It is with some sadness but a huge amount of pride that we have seen Karim Lynch leave the club, who has gone back to rejoin Ampthill, who have just won promotion into the Championship from National One.
“I think it is very flattering to know that our players are still on club’s radars even when they are getting up to that level.
“Karim was fantastic for us last season, and in truth we thought this coming season would be a slightly more pivotal one for us with him because we were likely to have to defend a lot more and therefore your full-back is so important.
“But it is such a fantastic opportunity and he has never played in The Championship before and we are happy for him and he goes with our best wishes and we hope he has an amazing time there.”
While Croker is sad to lose a player with the abilities of Lynch, he said he is looking forward to seeing him one day return to Chapel Gate in the future.
With the 12-strong team division fully professional, Croker says the Fortitudo backed Lions may one day benefit from his experience.
Croker added: “We know that he will come back to us one day and our door is always open to him.
“He has said fairly explicitly that he will come back to us one day because he still feels like he has a little bit of unfinished business with us.
“So we look forward to getting him back at some stage in the future, but in the meantime we wish him all the best in The Championship.”