Quote Pepe="Pepe"To most people who can read, the RFL have only stated that they are sending a task force to help find investors and marketing the club. That doesn’t mean they will not get financial help. That help, if it comes, should be in the form of a significant reduction in the TV money given to other SL clubs, to fund CC and keep them going for the next 2 years.
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Wouldn;t disagree with that. Not 100% sure how it works, but I don't feel that all the TV money should just be split between the clubs anway.
Quote Pepe
Without wishing to sound too boastful, we’ve been above a few SL clubs for several years. With Steve O’Connor at the helm, we are even stronger.
We were turned down for a licence entirely for financial history, despite SOC giving a half-a-million pounds, up front, guarantee. Here we are less than a year on and thriving, while CC are in a financial crisis. Doesn’t say much for the RFL and it’s ‘criteria’ does it?
It’s a bit difficult to have any faith whatsoever in the RFL using that ‘criteria’ to pick the strongest bids, and not just put every emphasis on expansion. I have every reason to be concerned that Widnes will never receive a licence as a result.
FWIW I hoipe Cetlic pull through.'"
Yes, the RFL did decline you for a franchise based on financial history. On one hand it seemed incredibly harsh, especially when looking at some of the other candidates, but then there is also the argument that they would be seen to be rewarding a club who had gone bust not much earlier, and hadn't had the necessary time to prove that the new management structure was a worthy one. Not really worth going over all that again though as I assume we are all in agreement that Widnes were worthy of a place.
One last point though, there is no indication that Celtic are struggling financially. They too have a rich backer, and so far, apart from rumours, nothing suggests they are at risk of going bust. Where they do seem to be struggling is with the experience and knowledge of running a full time team in an expansion area.
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