debaser wrote:
Is this the RFL trying to absolve themselves of any blame when we are liquidated? Its sounds like that to be.
Still at least they will have protected a prize asset for the good of the sport. A sport that will no longer will be played there, and that is in fact dying on it's a@@e. They can be very proud.
Indeed. On the face of it, the RFL's whiney stance that basically they and their lease are a separate thing and why should they be railroaded into being part of a deal would be logical - but not when you know:
a) what they paid for it
b) how they got it
c) how they effectively got themselves a 750K loan back which they would otherwise have been whistling for with the other creditors
The RFL got themselves into this. In becoming the club's landlords they ARE inextricably part of the deal. The fact that they are also the game's governing body makes it all the more imperative that they take a full and active part. If they were saying someone is trying to rob them, or we're not selling at that price, or whatever, that would be fair enough, but as I read it, they are saying "No, you lads do a deal for the club first, THEN we'll talk about what we may or may not do".
So let's say the interested party was Tesco, and they wanted to build a megastore. Ask yourself, would they buy the business blind, and only then start to negotiate as to whether or not they could actually own the land? So buy on no more than a wing and a prayer? No they wouldn't, nor would, nor will, any business. This stance restricts potential buyers to just those that are benefactors rather than business,men, who are prepared to commit themselves to the status quo (buy the club, take on the lease) and then hope for the best.
By which time of course the RFL would have engineered themselves into an infinitely stronger position, as now, they would be negotiating for the lease with a party who was a captive market, and had basically zero bargaining power. As if they don't accept whatever deal, then they are bound to just keep paying the rent and maintaining the land.
I can accept that the RFL don't ant to give the lease away etc., and why should they, but it isn't worth more than £1.25m (unless the RFL fleeced the club at an undervalue at the point of purchase).
If this is a dealbreaker and kills off the club then well done RFL, you've stuck to your guns, and preserved the iconic Odsal for the game. But, what game, and at the expense of assigning to the dustbin of history one of your proudest and most illustrious clubs.
Nice work.
