Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans reckons even a run of four straight wins at the start of the Guinness Premiership will not see him push the panic button when it comes to appointing Dean Richards’ successor.

The disgraced former director of rugby was handed a three-year world wide ban from rugby this week after taking full responsibility for the Tom Williams fake-injury scandal that has enveloped the club.

A European Rugby Cup appeal hearing issued the sanction - which included a two-year ban for physio Steph Brennan - applicable to all ERC competitions on Monday before the RFU and IRB followed suit for tournaments under their jurisdiction.

Williams, who blew the whistle on four similar incidents involving Richards and the former first team physio, saw his year-long ban reduced to four months after detailing a subsequent cover-up.

Head coach John Kingston has taken charge of first team affairs as Evans draws up a road map to either directly replace the former England number eight or re-structure the coaching staff.

Quins kick-off their campaign with Wasps, Leicester, Saracens and Newcastle and Evans - who has already issued a full and frank apology for the debacle -reckons the priority still lies with restoring the club’s reputation.

“We are not going to panic. We have four very tough games to start with and it is important we are not seen as a club in crisis or in complete free fall,” he said.

“There are a number of priorities at the moment and finding a successor is one of them. It may be we appoint like for like or we might restructure.

“In all honesty Dean wasn’t a hands on coach. He did it his way and it may be we re-allocate some of his responsibilities to other people.

“It took us three months to appoint Dean. I hope it doesn't take as long as that, but it is not something we are going to rush into irrespective of the circumstances.

“We’ve taken a huge reputational hit and it is going to take time to repair it. I think we've done an awful lot of good things as an organisation and I’m still proud of that.

“But I don’t think there is a man alive who doesn't look back on things and regret something happening. I feel desperately sad for Dean and Steph. It was a perfect storm and they are not bad people.”

Williams was replaced by fly-half Nick Evans late on in his side’s Heineken Cup quarter-final exit to Leinster with ‘blood’ pouring from his mouth, which was later found to have been fabricated .

The 25-year-old winger revealed he was deliberately cut in the aftermath of the match to cover-up events, while exposing Richards and Brennan as repeat offenders.

But Quins number eight Nick Easter, who claimed the punishments seemed harsh in unprecedented circumstances, has backed Williams - who recently signed a new contract at the Stoop - and the club to bounce back.

“It has been an uncomfortable few months for Tom. As far as I know he had no intention of him ever leaving Harlequins,” he added.

“It is not an ideal start to pre-season when you lose your director or rugby before the start, but this is a close knit squad and events have only made it more so. We must move on.

“There is nothing to compare it to, but when you look at punishments for other recent incidents like eye-gouging and drug-taking - that all need to be addressed - they seem harsh.

“I was shocked, surprised and disappointed when Dean left, but his influence here in the last four years has been amazing.”