New Cobham director of rugby Steve Pope has warned there is no quick fix when it comes to getting the club back to where it wants to be.

Pope, former coach at National Division Two South Bishops Stortford, watched as his side lost 19-6 to London Division Two South West title rivals London Cornish on Saturday, a defeat that saw them slip off the top of the table.

Cobham, who hosted Italy and Namibia during the World Cup, were relegated after a poor season in London Division One South last year that saw Pope's predecessor Mike Cudmore depart Fairmile Lane.

The club had started this season with four straight wins leading some to assume their’s would be an easy passage back.

But Hertfordshire-based Pope, who combines his work at Cobham with being head of rugby at Reeds School down the road, says his is a long term project.

“I’ve coached at a higher level and I am pleasantly surprised with the standard of this league,” said Pope, who has recruited Harlequins centre Matt Hopper to be part of his five strong coaching team.

“If we can get everybody fit and available then we will do well.

“But we are trying to build a 40-man squad capable of playing at this level and that takes time.

“We are introducing a style of play – which is expansive when we can be – the whole club, from juniors to seniors, can adopt.

“We want to build for the future and bring the junior club closer to the senior set-up. That takes time, but we will get there.

“I’m starting completely from scratch because I do not know a lot about what happened before.

“I was impressed with London Cornish, but when we play them again in January we will be stronger.”

KCS Old Boys lost 13-24 at home to London Exiles in London Division Two South West on Saturday, while Kingston and Old Emanuel lost to Law Society and Old Wimbledonians respectively in Surrey Division One.