Quins to stay at The Stoop in 2011

[josie andrews]

Harlequins will play Super League rugby at The Stoop again next season after David Hughes, the businessman who has suffered seven-figure losses in keeping the club going in recent years, made an announcement before last night's home game against Warrington dismissing doubts about their future.

Brian McDermott, who was coaching the team for the last time and was unable to sign off with a victory as the Wolves won 36-22, had gone public with the fears that have been lingering beneath the surface all year when explaining his decision to return north to Leeds.

However, Hughes has said that such talk was alarmist, and that the meetings he held with the Rugby Football League ahead of last weekend's Challenge Cup final at Wembley were to resolve ownership issues that have festered beneath the surface since the former chairman, Ian Lenagan, bought a controlling interest in Wigan two years ago.

"I currently own 35% of the club but provide 100% of the funding for the losses which have been substantial over the past two years and we asked the RFL to help find a solution to this current situation which was unsustainable," said Hughes.

"They have helped find a solution that will shortly allow me to take ownership of 100% of the shares in the club. This will allow us to step up the search for investment which we still need to secure to provide a further stimulus and give Harlequins RL the best possible chance to realise the fantastic potential that it has."

Hughes confirmed that Quins are considering taking one home game away from The Stoop next season, with Milton Keynes thought to be the most likely location, but said the club would retain its Twickenham base.




http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/se ... per-league