​Exclusive by Tom Bradshaw

Bath Rugby chief executive Nick Blofeld has given unqualified backing to head coach Steve Meehan as supporters’ patience with the Australian begins to show signs of wearing thin, writes Tom Bradshaw.

With two wins from 13 games this season and just three points separating them from the Guinness Premiership’s bottom side, Leeds Carnegie, Bath capped a woeful three months with a 16-0 drubbing by London Irish at The Rec on Saturday.

The fans’ forum on the club’s own official website now contains a topic headed ‘Time for Meehan to go?’ and a poll entitled ‘Should Steve Meehan leave?’.

But Blofeld gave a whole-hearted vote of confidence in Meehan this week, telling the Chronicle: “We need to tough it out.”

The new chief executive, who took over the hot seat at the beginning of September, also confirmed that the club had agreed terms with skills and defence coach Brad Davis, who is now contracted to remain at Bath until at least May 2012.

One of Blofeld’s first acts upon arriving at The Rec was to secure Meehan’s signature on a new contract. The two-year deal was confirmed in early October.

Subsequent results have prompted claims that Blofeld acted too hastily but the former racecourse boss says he remains confident he made the right decision in re-signing Meehan.

“I don’t regret it at all,” he said. “We are in a situation where we just need to tough it out.

“We had a full and frank conversation with the squad on Monday and I would be concerned if I didn’t believe in the coaching staff and the players, but I have complete confidence in them.

“We’ve got the talent there and sometimes – although you can’t put your finger on it – you’re not delivering what you’re capable of.”

Blofeld said he was not – and would not – intervene with Meehan’s running of the squad.

“Far be it for me to comment on the rugby technicalities,” he said.

 “We have conversations about changing and improving things, but a lot of it comes down to clarifying and communicating well what the plan is and how we intend to play.”

Blofeld sat in on a four-and-a-half hour meeting on Monday attended by all players and coaching staff.

“It wasn’t a crisis meeting, we’re just frustrated. We know we are so much better than what we delivered on Saturday,” he said.

“Andrew Brownsword (the club owner) wasn’t at the meeting. He has a lot of other interests and business and he wasn’t in the thick of it, but I was there.”

Meehan also received the unreserved backing of two senior Bath players this week.

Former club captain and ex-England lock Danny Grewcock said: “It’s a brilliant squad of players and you can’t fault the coaches.

“We have a fantastic group of coaches here. Credit to them – they have stayed calm throughout. They have stayed focused on looking for that little edge that we need.”

And prop Duncan Bell added: “We had a big heart to heart on Monday – a very open, honest and long meeting. There’s no question – and I know a lot of media have jumped on this bandwagon – that everyone is behind Steve, Martin Haag and Brad Davis. We all want the same thing.”

When questioned about his own feelings this week, Meehan said with a wry smile: “I’d forgotten about the signing of that (contract). It’s a difficult challenge, there’s no doubt about that.

“I wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t feel that the character was in the squad to come out of it. It has been a difficult period for us but we’ll come out of it stronger.

“We may not reach the heights that the squad on paper should reach or was expected to reach given the last couple of seasons.

“The situation’s far more complicated than we ever thought it was going to be. We will come out of it well and then it’s a launching pad.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”