Hewitt honoured to be named Saints chairman

Hewitt was named as Northampton’s new chief at the club’s AGM on Monday night, taking up the role left vacant by the passing of Leon Barwell in June.

He had been in command on a temporary basis but the decision was taken to extend his stay for what is provisionally planned to be another two years.

And he is now looking forward to continuing his work at Saints, who have performed well on and off the pitch this year.

“It’s a fantastic honour,” said Hewitt, who was vice chairman during Leon Barwell’s tenure. “It’s obviously going to be a very difficult act to follow in Keith and Leon.

“You wish the circumstances were different and it’s obviously tempered with that. Our thoughts are with the Barwell family.

“From my point of view it’s a custodial role. It’s a fantastic club, founded in 1880 so we’ve got to make sure it keeps going from strength to strength.”

Saints have also announced the appointment of a deputy chairman, John White, who joined the Northampton board last year and is a former chairman and chief executive of Persimmon Homes.

And in a third piece of news from the AGM, it was confirmed Keith Barwell has accepted the ambassadorial role of president, remaining on the board.