Bloodgate: Harlequins chairman Charles Jillings resigns

Charles Jillings has resigned as chairman and director of Harlequins following the 'Bloodgate' scandal that has enveloped the club.

Jillings, who has seen his club fined £258,000 and former coach Dean Richards receive a three-year worldwide ban, announced his resignation through the Harlequins website on Friday afternoon.

In his lengthy statement he admits: "We, Harlequins acknowledge that we failed to control Dean Richards. I trusted Dean. As a result of the Board’s failure to exercise control, the Club cheated. This is totally unacceptable."

Pressure had been mounting on Jillings and Quins' chief executive Mark Evans in light of Tom Williams' claims that he was offered a lucrative compensation deal by Jillings, which included a two-year extension to his contract, a testimonial, and a “three-year employment opportunity” at the club after his retirement.

Williams, whose original 12-month ban was reduced to four months at the ERC committee meeting earlier this month, claimed that Jillings suggested that he should restrict his appeal to the sanction and not the “findings of fact” and could refuse to answer questions “that might incriminate others”.

In the original incident Leinster defeated Harlequins 6-5 in the Heineken Cup quarter-final at the Twickenham Stoop in April, after fly-half Nick Evans missed a late dropped goal having come on for ‘blood injury’ to Williams.

Jillings said: "As Chairman I am ultimately responsible for all decisions.

"I believe it is of paramount importance that Harlequins, at the earliest and most opportune time, should draw a line and move forward. I apologise unreservedly to all our stakeholders for inadvertently compounding the issues.

"The escalation of these issues in the public domain needs, I believe, a clear response. In this context I have decided to resign as Chairman and Director. Ultimately this happened under my watch and the failure to control must fall at my door."

The club have appointed Malcolm Wall as chairman on an interim basis. Wall formerly held the post between 1997 and 2000.

Harlequins kick off their season against Wasps at Twickenham on Saturday, Sept 5.

Bloodgate timeline

• April 12: Leinster defeat Harlequins 6-5 in the Heineken Cup quarter-final at the Twickenham Stoop, after fly-half Nick Evans misses a late dropped goal having come on for ‘blood injury’ Tom Williams.
• April 17: ERC officially launches investigation and appoints disciplinary officer Roger O’Connor to gather statements.
• July 20: ERC bans Williams for12 months, clears Dean Richards, doctor Wendy Chapman and physio Steph Brennan.
• Aug 8: Richards quits as director of rugby.
• Aug 12: Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans makes unreserved apology to supporters for bringing shame on the club.
• Aug 15: Telegraph Sport reveals that Tom Williams’s mouth was cut in an attempt to make real the fake injury.
• Aug 17: Richards given three-year ban. Brennan banned for two years. Williams’s ban reduced from 12 months to four. Harlequins’ fine increased to £258,000.
• Aug 18: RFU launches investigation into four further cases of fake blood injuries.
• Aug 23: RFU sets up task force to review issue, but take no further action.
• Aug 28: Charles Jillings resigns as Harlequins chairman and director.