EX-GLOUCESTER and Cinderford man Adam Balding has rejoined the Forest club as a player/coach, while interim head coach Paul Morris has stepped into the director of rugby role until the end of the season.

The two appointments have been made in the hope that the club can salvage a season that has seen them drop to bottom of National League One.

Balding, a number eight who amassed 40 appearances over four years for Gloucester between 2004-2008, captaining the club to a European Challenge Cup title in 2006 as well as being a member of the squad that topped the Premiership table the following season, only to 44-16 lose to Leicester in the play-off final at Twickenham.

Balding joined Cinderford as a player in late 2013, helping the side to stay up in National League One then.

Morris hopes Balding will have a similar impact this time round, having agreed to return to Dockham Road after a heavy 37-5 home loss to Blackheath.

Morris himself signed the deal to remain at the helm until the end of the season on December 30.

“I think giving the management more time for a long-term appointment had a bit to do with it,” Morris said.

“There’s a lot going on off the field at the moment, and I believe I’m the right man to run things off the pitch.

“Gradually, bit by bit we are getting there. I don’t want to go on blaming the previous regime because that gets us nowhere, but it’s crucial that the management get do make sure they get it right this time.

“It’s not just the Corrigan era, but it goes back before that and after Andy Deacon [under Neil Loader].”

Morris insists the club will fight tooth and nail to stay up once more, saying it is ’not in my nature’ to give up – and agreed it’s not a characteristic the club carries either.

“There’s a league of four at the bottom of the table,” he added.

“We need to keep cracking away and make sure we are on top of that. Are we in a position where we can beat the top teams? I would never say never but it’s hard for us.

“I thought we were competitive against Blackheath for 55 minutes. At half-time it was only 13-5 but we made some costly errors and we have to improve every area of our game.

“Hopefully that’s where Adam will come in, helping out with the issues on the pitch.”