ONE chapter of the Newcastle Falcons story will close this afternoon as Tom May, David Wilson, Phil Dowson and Geoff Parling make their final appearances for the club.

But despite concern over the number of experienced players leaving this summer, director of rugby Steve Bates insists an even better tale will unfold at the start of next season.

With this afternoon’s final Guinness Premiership game at Harlequins marking the end of an era, a number of supporters have expressed their fears.

With Jonny Wilkinson and Jamie Noon also expected to sever their ties at the end of the season, and emerging flyhalf Rory Clegg attracting interest from a number of Premiership rivals, Newcastle could lose seven or eight of their most talented players.

Samoa captain Filipo Levi heads a list of arrivals that also includes Tongan flanker Josh Afu and former London Irish lock James Hudson, but the sum of Falcons’ signings does not match either the quantity or quality of the players who are due to leave.

Bates is involved in contract negotiations with a number of potential recruits, however, and feels the current wave of pessimism around Kingston Park is misplaced.

“We are obviously aware of certain noises from quarters outside of the club with regards to players moving on,”

said the Falcons chief.

“But the quality of people we are bringing in over the summer will see a new chapter for this club and the start of what we believe is an exciting journey.

“I am very excited by the names we are currently engaged with. “ Bates will put his recruitment drive on hold this afternoon as Newcastle play their final game of the season at the Stoop.

Phil Dowson will skipper the visitors in his final appearance for the club, while Matt Thompson will replace Rob Vickers at hooker in the only change to the starting line-up against Bath.

Scrum-half Micky Young has recovered from the arm injury that forced him from the field last weekend.

FALCONS: Tait, Williams, Noon, Tu’ipulotu, Rudd, May, Young; Ward, Thompson, D Wilson, Swinson, Sorenson, Winter, Dowson, Balding. Replacements: Long, Williams, Parling, Beattie, Charlton, Jones, Miller.