Saints chairman Hewitt reflects on a dream first season

The club picked up two trophies during the 2013/14 campaign, winning the Amlin Challenge Cup before claiming the one they really wanted, the Aviva Premiership.

Hewitt has continued the fine work done by his predecessor Leon Barwell, who passed away in June last year.

And the Franklin’s Gardens supremo, who took over on a full-time basis at the start of last season, admits he couldn’t have asked for more from the campaign.

“I was delighted how it went,” said Hewitt. “I couldn’t have had a better ending to that season.

“Those three weeks at the end of the season will always be in my memory. Beating Leicester at home, winning the Amlin Challenge Cup in Cardiff and the ultimate of the Aviva Premiership at Twickenham.”

Hewitt had been a part of Saints for 18 years before taking up a role as acting chairman during Barwell’s illness.

And he feels that experience helped prepare him for the task he was given last September.

“The transition went well,” said Hewitt. “I’m fortunate in that I’d been a director of the club since when a Limited Company was formed for the first time.

“When Leon was chairman I worked very closely with him and he wanted me to become acting chairman. That developed into a role as full-time chairman.

“When you get things running correctly they should be seamless. Because I’d been around and done it all I was hopefully able to continue the progress we’ve made to date.”