91�ȱ�

Newcastle Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond says that other Premiership clubs are circling in attempts to sign his players.

Diamond said he had received enquiries about four of his squad withthe Falcons on a 25-game losing streak in the Premiership.

"We have had approaches for four players this week. We can't be doing so badly if four of the big clubs want our players," he said.

Bottom-placed Newcastle entertain Exeter Chiefs, another team with four losses out of four, on Friday.

As Diamond works to try and make Newcastle competitive, he knows "hawks" are trying to recruit his players for next season.

But he admits that he would be doing the same if the Falcons were in a stronger position.

As it is, the north east club are already four points adrift at the bottom of the table and facing a fight to avoid a relegation play-off at the end of the campaign.

"The hawks are picking on us at the moment," he said.

"I am getting several calls this week about 'can I buy X player off you'. Once I tell them how much I want, they seem to go very quiet on the phone.

"It's business. We would do the same if we had the resource to do that. But I am amazed where some of the clubs who have approached me get their money from. You think they would be capped up."

However, Diamond is enthused by the approach of his squad, as despite results, they have not had their heads turned elsewhere.

"The players are very professional," he said. "They understand me, they understand the club, they've got an affection for the club because most of them have been there a long time. They are not in the habit of jumping ship.

"At this moment, we don't want to be putting our wares in the shop window in October when there is a hell of a battle to be done through the season."