To be honest don't think this is that much of a surprise to many. DH is effectively retired, his personal wealth can only sustain so much so he has to cut his cloth accordingly. Dont see any new investors running in to pay the bills. Let's hope things turn around in the not too distant future.
NB that is right as far as it goes. There is little point paying for a full time team that is taken to the cleaners by other FT teams and that struggles against even the most modest PT teams.
The disconnect is the move to PL and 2 training grounds. That really needs unpicking. The commercial manager last year pointed to F Rovers as a PT model that works but I think they are in a unique position. I think Sheffield is nearer where we will be: competent, good at times, no threat to the best and thin on numbers. A solid Championship side. I just don’t see how that will be a big draw to new fans ( on whom we will need to spend money advertising to/ marketing/ cheap loss leader tickets). I think the clubs thinking has become very muddled.
In terms of the timing, I believe the players already knew. Two separate sources told me this announcement.was due shortly last month. I'd be very surprised if the players didn't know some time last month at the absolute latest.
The devil is in the detail. On the face of it simultaneously moving part time and moving to Wimbledon is madness. The club allude to having plans to generate new support etc. I hope there is a lot we don't yet know.
I'll leave you with one positive on a grim day for RL in London. Some people I know who have track records in growing clubs etc have been made aware of the clubs plans for marketing etc for next season. They were quite impressed. This was a while back, I just hope the financial bloodbath that has been 2021 won't see the marketing budget slashed.
As NB says its hardly a surprise but as I think BT said the timing is like always not great. Of course this only answers part of the question, we have still to here from the club what conclusions they came to following the meeting on 2nd. Also the world needs to know what the monkey has done with our WQ!
Well I think we all knew it was going to happen - doesn't make it any easier to stomach though.
Rise like Lions after slumber In unvanquishable number-- Shake your chains to earth like dew Which in sleep had fallen on you-- Ye are many -- they are few.'
What would people prefer. A full time team with no academy. Or a part time team with an academy. The club will be getting no money from the RFL to support the academy. Its share of the TV monies will be 10% of what we previously received. This is a problem for all clubs.
Joined: Apr 03 2002 Posts: 4958 Location: North West
Yes, many of us have worried about this announcement, few have a bottomless pocket, just trust we have a good plan, as no fans with everything that is offered in London, will follow a team that may not ve able to compete. Never liked Trailfinders, shocked that teams did not complain about how bad the surface was.
Wimbledon seemed a complete new beginning (again) but I will not travel 500 miles for home games for a team unable to compete. It sums up Rugby League in General. The new Wigan Athletic owner wanting higher rent from The Warriors, painting the ground blue and white? what club is not struggling, every Super League club will want more from Central Funding, which will leave not much for Championship Clubs, and Division One clubs, what can be spared for them?
Academy has been a huge success, but more for Super League Clubs in the North than our club, how many transfer fees have we received?
A sad day for Rugby League in London, it's been a good journey since as a teenager covering the first Fulham game, falling in love with the club, when Saints & Wire would have been a 15 minute drive away. We can only wait and see.
Joined: Apr 03 2002 Posts: 4958 Location: North West
Super League & The RFL need to look seriously, that clubs working hard producing Academy players, any Super League club signing a player home produced from lower league clubs, Must pay that club a serious signing on fee, not Mickey Mouse money.
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