As I stepped out of the scorching summer sun and into the cool of Farleigh House's grand hallway, I could dimly make out a silhouetted figure flitting among the shadows at the top of the staircase. It was only when a greeting emanated from those darkened recesses that I could be certain who it was.

As well-tailored and elegantly coiffured as ever, Bath Rugby chairman Bruce Craig – geed up about the imminent announcement of Sir Ian McGeechan's arrival – danced down the stairs.

It was not the first time that Craig had done a neat job of emerging from the shadows. His takeover of Bath Rugby in the spring was a masterpiece in covert operations, surprising even those working within the club.

He may only have been at the helm since April but Craig is already causing a stir – for all the right reasons.

Announcing on the day of his takeover that he would be relocating the club's HQ to a turreted country house certainly turned heads.

Now a knight of the realm has been persuaded to take up guard behind the crenellations.

The arrival of Sir Ian McGeechan, combined with the development of world-class training facilities on a 130-acre estate, will make Bath Rugby a very tempting prospect to a great many rugby players.

But while the current crop of players will no doubt be rubbing their hands at the prospect of running around a Georgian manor this coming season, things will never be so comfortable that they feel cosseted.

"Players will feel a certain obligation being part of this," explained Craig. "They are going to know their performances are being analysed significantly."

They've been warned.

Craig's long-term vision for Bath is being orchestrated from a corner of Farleigh House he calls the Music Room. It is an apt name, given that all he's done so far has been music to Bath fans' ears.

The owner has pulled out a couple of aces – and I wouldn't bet against him having one or two more up his sleeve.

I understand he will sharpen up the club's business acumen with the recruitment of some big-hitters. And from the way the senior management dip their heads and smile to themselves whenever I ask about a new on-field signing, something quite spectacular could well be yanked out of the fire in that department too.

On another front, Craig is pulling out all the stops to solve the seemingly intractable problems associated with building a new stadium at The Rec.

How on earth he will untie that Gordion knot remains to be seen but given the option of either redeveloping The Rec or building a fresh stadium elsewhere in Bath, it's clear what he favours.

"Everyone's preference is The Rec," said Craig. "It's the spiritual home."

Precisely how Craig proposes to keep Bath there remains a matter of conjecture. But as we're discovering, this is a man full of surprises.