Call Me God wrote:
Take a bow sir, take a Bow!
I will be refering to them as such from this day forth (moderators permitting)....
Toronto have moved that many goalposts in 12 short months that you'd think the SL chairman will see beyond their bluster, smoke and mirrors. For all their owners Billions of AU$ it does seem to the casual observer that the purse strings have been somewhat tightened this year. I know they have pitch issues in Toronto, but surely Perez could have taken a few games to Hamilton or Boston.....seeing as he's dead set keen on those cities having teams, but the cynic in me sees the ability to play all those games in 2 chunks of home and away, points very much to the "sponsor" not getting any traction or return on their free flights for a logo on the shirt scenario......and very little need to cover the teams accommodation costs when they are away as most of them can have mums home cooked meals.......
Or, and this is purely speculation and not stuff coming from within the RFL to people I have good relationships with -
* Perez has gone, has been gone a while now and the marketing machine is now being run by 'Honest' Martin Vickers, that guy who left Salford and Swinton in such good order. If he was still there do you really think they would have not had merchandise on sale since November? Replica shirts released in March, 4 weeks into the season at least? The guy went mental last year because they were only ready for Christmas day and not two weeks before. The current people are not driven by trying to save Argyle's money, they are just on the gravy train and turning their attention to the easier stuff.
* They have always intended to play as many games in the UK after realising last year that life outside of SL is very expensive and with no real sponsors it is even harder. Whilst players are in the UK they are housing and feeding themselves and costing the club less. I did say on several platforms when Ackers went that the homesick thing would become clear.
* They are asking the RFL already for 2019's money and contrary to popular opinion they are in fact getting money from the RFL now.
*They have failed to submit last years Cap yet.
* They are fully aware now, as are others in the game, that if they got to the point were the SL Chairman need to decide if they should let them in the answer will be no. For some reason most of them dislike the Wankpack and would rather have Leigh, London or Featherstone in, clubs run by like minded people to themselves. Because they have realised there is no chance of them getting in they have come up with a solution of getting all cosy with Mr Koukash and his Bradford club which will be a great way for them to get out of this embarrassing mess they are in which is getting worse by the month.
Now this could be a load of pony but why would a global sporting super power like them not be able to convince a club in the same City to allow them to play some games on their pitch if they really wanted to? As you have said, they could have taken it on the road. They are minted, they have more money that the Queen, why didn't they go to Miami, New York, Jamaica, China? Even if they thought it was better to play in England are they honestly expecting us to believe Skolars was the best option in London? Supposedly chosen because the Canadian Embassy is sponsoring the game and there will be Mounties on horse back. Argyle could have rented any ground he wanted in London for a game that could have sent shockwaves through the sport. Nah, 'lets go to Skolars, it is ideally located for all of the Ex Pat Canadians who we want to entice into the sport'.
How come if they are so rich they owe so many people money? The list is growing daily. Mind you, that was something 'Honest Mart' was really good at when he was at Salford and Swinton. As their poor fans will testify.
To be fair there are some really good journalists with far more questions than this, it will be an interesting few months.
HOW MANY TIMES?????
