Despite consolidating the Ravens’ top-flight status Silva was deemed surplus to requirements at the Brewery Field, but has now been given another opportunity to coach in the Indigo Group Premiership having been appointed head coach of RGC 1404.
“The ending at Bridgend came late in the day and there were no coaching posts available apart from RGC,” said Silva.
“I was disappointed when I was initially released by Bridgend because I wanted to continue coaching them and I really enjoyed my time there.
“I built up some good relationships with the players and supporters, but that’s the way sport goes. There are no sour grapes from me, but I was disappointed with how late in the day it happened because it very nearly bit me on the backside.
“I’m going to keep my property in Bridgend and my wife will remain down there, but I will be moving to north Wales. I am going to be throwing myself right into this job and to do that I need to be based up in north Wales.
“I’ll just pop home maybe once a week. I’m going to work my socks off in making RGC successful on and off the pitch.”
Since the formation of the semi-professional RGC in 2008 there has been a steady rise in the popularity of rugby in an area where football has traditionally dominated the sporting landscape.
While Silva appreciates the importance of achieving immediate results on the field of play, his long-term goal is to turn RGC into a breeding ground of regional and international players.
He said: “Before I went into coaching my skill set was player development with the Cardiff Blues and Ospreys age grades. I really enjoy the player development side of things as well as the coach development.
“I think there’s a need for those skills in north Wales. They’ve got the age grades set-ups up there and for the first time ever they’ve got a senior academy.
“But the ultimate aim for me would be we need to see more George Norths coming out of the region. There is a lot of talent up here, but we’ve just got to unearth it and bring it forward.
“That’s what is exciting for me as well as being a head coach of a Premiership side. From a logistical perspective at the moment it’s a pathway up here for guys to play a higher level whether that be Premiership, regional, whether they go on to play in England or at international level.
“We need these guys up-skilled and ready to go into regional rugby or even age grade international rugby at that stage.
“It’s such a well-supported team up here. They have the biggest crowds, they take the biggest travelling support away, and they are fanatical about rugby up here.
“It’s one of the only sports up here that people come out and watch. RGC have historically played a really good brand of rugby and I think it’s in everyone’s interest we sustain that.”
Silva is also confident of achieving immediate on-field success with the Gogs and has identified numerous positions they need to strengthen.
He said: “We do need to strengthen in some key positions.
“Unfortunately Phil John has decided to step down at the end of his contract so I’m in the market for a new forwards coach. I’m going to exhaust every avenue in finding a North Walian forwards coach if I can.
“When I move on in the future I’d love to leave behind a self-sustained north Walian coaching structure up here so we become self-sufficient. We’ve obviously got to make sure we live in the here and now and we’ve got to deliver results.
“There is an excellent squad here at the moment which can deliver on the field.”
