Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:57 am  

That is the headline of an article in today's L'Independant, published in the Rugby League heartlands in the South of France. The gist is that "the Broncos are perhaps living their final hours in the Super League. Created in 1980, the London club, which has changed its name five times, has never taken off. With only 2000 spectators on average, this season has been calamitous with only three victories and a humiliation (70-0) against Wigan in the semi-final of the Cup.
Until now no recruits have been announced, and eight players have already signed for other clubs and only one of the eleven players with contracts has been extended (Dixon). "The future is very uncertain" says Gus Mackay the Club director who is the contact with the Super League bosses who support having a professional club in the capital. But until when? The owner of the Broncos, the millionaire David Hughes, does not want to invest any more. although the next season will see to bottom two clubs relegated to the Championship, the Broncos are stuck. The end appears to be close.
The major investor of Featherstone, Feisal Nahaboo, who is the founder of Probiz, (a management company) and who has invested greatly in sport in England, has made it known that the club is ready to take the Bronco's place in the next season of Supe League. Featherston, situated only 10km from Wakefield, heads the Championship and counts an average of 4000 spectators this season. The club, which was refused a Super League licence in 2012, to the profit of Widnes, is pushing its case to the RFL authorities."

Re: Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:04 am  

Eh? A view from afar and nothing new in it.

They probably used Gary Schofield and Julie Stott as consultants.

Re: Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sat Aug 31, 2013 3:16 pm  

actondave wrote:

That is the headline of an article in today's L'Independant, published in the Rugby League heartlands in the South of France. The gist is that "the Broncos are perhaps living their final hours in the Super League. Created in 1980, the London club, which has changed its name five times, has never taken off. With only 2000 spectators on average, this season has been calamitous with only three victories and a humiliation (70-0) against Wigan in the semi-final of the Cup.
Until now no recruits have been announced, and eight players have already signed for other clubs and only one of the eleven players with contracts has been extended (Dixon). "The future is very uncertain" says Gus Mackay the Club director who is the contact with the Super League bosses who support having a professional club in the capital. But until when? The owner of the Broncos, the millionaire David Hughes, does not want to invest any more. although the next season will see to bottom two clubs relegated to the Championship, the Broncos are stuck. The end appears to be close.
The major investor of Featherstone, Feisal Nahaboo, who is the founder of Probiz, (a management company) and who has invested greatly in sport in England, has made it known that the club is ready to take the Bronco's place in the next season of Supe League. Featherston, situated only 10km from Wakefield, heads the Championship and counts an average of 4000 spectators this season. The club, which was refused a Super League licence in 2012, to the profit of Widnes, is pushing its case to the RFL authorities."

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counts an average of 4000 spectators this season. The club, which was refused a Super League licence in 2012, to the profit of Widnes, is pushing its case to the RFL authorities."

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That part's wrong, they never applied and they don't average those amount of fans either. Don't worry.

Re: Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:14 pm  

In fact, Nahaboo has said that although Fev aren't really ready yet for SL (their planning would obviously be built around the new licencing period, starting in 2015), if given the option of a SL place they'd take it.

Re: Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sat Aug 31, 2013 8:20 pm  

London (badly run clusterflip), Wakefield (begging the fans) , Bradford (more rumours of late wages)....yeah, I'd be queuing up to join the merry-go-round that is modern RL whilst the idiots at Red Hall are in charge.

Re: Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:31 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

London (badly run clusterflip), Wakefield (begging the fans) , Bradford (more rumours of late wages)....yeah, I'd be queuing up to join the merry-go-round that is modern RL whilst the idiots at Red Hall are in charge.

I can't see how it is their fault if clubs are badly run.

Re: Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:56 pm  

Hedgehog King wrote:

I can't see how it is their fault if clubs are badly run.

due diligence is all it would take.

Simply put...there has to be 5 million a year assured over 3 years of the licence period, with a guaranteed home ground and 50% of the turn over dedicated to development. After SKY Money and any long term sponsorship deals that are legally binding, if you can't give an assurance of the balance of the 15,000,000 over 3 years, then you're out.

The likes of OK and Dr K at Salford are willing to invest maybe 2 million quid.....if they don't start to see a return their enthusiasm wont last and those clubs will be in trouble again....it is the RFL's responsibility to act independently and not at the behest of a few club chairmen.

The RFL are the governing body of the sport......they should GOVERN!

Re: Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sun Sep 01, 2013 7:30 am  

Hedgehog King wrote:

I can't see how it is their fault if clubs are badly run.

Who gives out the licences ?

Re: Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:35 am  

According to 'The Observer', Wakefield's new chairman is saying that the club's undercapitalised to the tune of around £400k, and they've sold Tim Smith to Salford for a 'substantial' fee, which feels like a fire sale to me. Fev for Wakey, anyone?

Re: Featherstone to take London's place next season? : Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:06 am  

The Chronicler of Chiswic wrote:

According to 'The Observer', Wakefield's new chairman is saying that the club's undercapitalised to the tune of around £400k, and they've sold Tim Smith to Salford for a 'substantial' fee, which feels like a fire sale to me. Fev for Wakey, anyone?

No, it's a Yorkshire club! the game is based there and the odd Lancashire club, to make numbers up,