Dimes back at the club after illness

Diamond - pictured at Edgeley Park on Boxing Day

Steve Diamond was back at Carrington this week, but it was clear to observers that the club's Executive Director of Sport has been seriously ill. Diamond - who adds the Chief Executive title to his C.V. next Wednesday - has been in hospital, and missed the games against La Vila and Brive.

As Neil Leigh writes in today's Manchester Evening News, "His gaunt appearance bore witness to the ordeal the 42-year-old has just been through".A routine medical procedure escalated into a situation where Diamond found his body having to fight off the twin threats of blood poisoning and pneumonia after his right ankle became infected.

"I had a minor ankle operation before Christmas which then became infected and things developed from there," Diamond revealed. "I had a couple of days off after the London Irish game earlier this month, which is when the ankle flared up and started causing me a lot of pain. After seeking medical advice, I was admitted to hospital straight away as it then became quite serious. I had a bit of septicaemia and pneumonia to go with it, so it has taken it out of me.

"It's been a bit of a shock as I've never really been ill before. It took them quite a while to monitor the blood poisoning but now it's under control. I was in hospital for two weeks and though I've not weighed myself, I reckon I've lost at least a stone-and-a-half.

"I have to keep my ankle in plaster and I still feel pretty tired, so the plan is I'll be doing a couple of hours a day this week. There's a lot going on at the club right now but we'll just see how it goes. If I'm not 100%, then I won't be in work.

"I'm back on the mend now and we want to get two wins in the next fortnight in our LV= Cup games to build towards our Premiership home match with Worcester early next month."

The club's supporters can be assured that the Chief Executive - elect is armed with laptop and mobile phone, although his mobility is temporarily limited.

Sharks' home games coming up:

Saturday 4^th February (7.30): Scarlets (LV= Cup)

Friday 10^th February (8.00): Worcester Warriors (Aviva Premiership)

Friday 24^th February (7.45): London Wasps (Aviva Premiership)

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