Chris Downes has been named as the new head coach of Old Patesians.

He will take over in the summer from Craig Jones, who is standing down at the end of the season.

Downes, 36, is a former player at Old Patesians and is the current director of rugby at the University of Gloucestershire, a role he will continue when he takes up his new position at the Pats.

Ben Smith, a community rugby coach for the RFU in Gloucestershire who assists Downes at the university, will be part of the new coaching team at Pats.

Downes, who works in the day as a recruitment manager, says he is looking forward to going back to his old club but admits it wasn’t something he was expecting: “I wasn’t in the market but then Matt Cape [Old Patesians chairman of rugby] approached me.

“The success we’ve had at the university has obviously helped.”

And Downes has been greatly helped at the university by Smith, who will take on the role of senior coach at the Pats.

“He’s a fantastic coach,” said Downes. “His availability was probably the deal clincher, I trust him implicitly. He’s everything you look for in a coach.”

Downes says Smith is aged “about 30” and he has retired from playing due to injury.

Downes, too, has retired after a career that saw him play for Ebbw Vale and Pontypool as well the Pats. A tighthead prop or hooker, a serious neck injury saw him stop playing for six years but he returned to the Pats for a couple of seasons as a number eight before hanging up his boots for good at the end of the last campaign.

A former Cheltenham College pupil, he has remained in touch with the Pats – “I’ve seen them play three or four times this season,” he said – and knows how important the South West Premier club is to a good many people.

“They’re a fantastic club in the heart of the community,” he said. “They’ve been punching above their weight for a good few years. We need to make it fun, drive the family culture and develop the players.”

It’s been a tough season for the Pats after winning the South West One East title last time out. They have won only three of their 21 league games and will return to the lower level next season – although at this stage it is not certain whether that will be South West One East or South West One West.

They have played the majority of their home games at the Prince of Wales Stadium this season because of concerns that the two pitches at Everest Road have deteriorated significantly over the past few years.

A decision as to where the club will play their home games next season will be made in the summer after the 2019/20 fixtures are known – Smiths also play their home games at the Prince of Wales Stadium – but Downes is happy wherever they play.

“I’m relaxed about it,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me. I want a fast-paced, direct style of play and it’s a gameplan that can be played uphill, downhill or on a flat surface.

“I’m led by what the players feel and by commercial factors.”

Downes is familiar with the players at the Pats having played with them so recently – “I know 99 per cent of the group,” he said – and is planning to watch them play at home to Maidenhead tomorrow.

The players were told of his appointment last night and Downes said he had already received a number of messages of support.

“Obviously there will be some people who are sceptical of change, but I think it has been positively received,” he said, adding that he doesn’t see his new role being for “anything less than two or three years”.

“There will be a few weeks of uncertainty, he continued, “there always is, but I will be talking to the players at the club. They are a really talented group. I want to give them direction and identify those areas that need to improve.”

Downes will also be hoping to attract players from other clubs – “I want to bolster the squad,” he confirmed – and he is also looking to recruit two player/coaches.

“They would have to be players who are playing at a higher level than the Pats are playing now,” said Downes. “Maybe an ex-pro who is returning to civvy street or guys who are in their late 20s or early 30s who have been playing National One or Two and want to do some coaching.”

The club revealed earlier this week that Mark Peacey will be standing down as forwards coach at the end of the season.