Re: WIDNES ON THE VERGE OF ADMINISTRATION
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:22 pm
Re: Old Hooker.
The Administrators' take on the situation is quoted below and refers exclusively to the club, Widnes and the manner in which they operated financially :-
"Describing the situation as rudderless, the experienced administrator added they are reluctant to sell players but concluded that the predicament is a result of the club spending more than they earn".
That's exactly the same as in any business, or in any other industry, is a recipe for disaster and why companies go bust, both in the high street, in manufacturing, and other trades, as well as in sport. It doesn't mean the industry as a whole is dying, as you state. Just in sport, it seems, business protocol goes out the window !
You say Bradford's gates are down from "Bullmania" days - of course they are, they are only playing in the Championship ! But they are still getting 5/6k and will continue to grow with success on the field. Remember when we were relegated, we were only getting 3/4k at CP ! York are growing and developing, on a firm financial footing, and have a new stadium on the horizon.
Leigh and Widnes you mention, have both spent money they ain't got, to chase the SL dream, and Widnes also went into Administration before, back in 2005 ! Both are only very small towns with low populations, so budgeting is even more a stricter criteria. Bradford are capable of 20,000k in SL.
As DaveO says, and I agree, Licensing is the best method in growing clubs organically, rather than them self imploding in the quest for SL, all on Championship or L1 gates, and then failing with disastrous results.
And ………….
1) No Oz Tours - is not an example that RL is "dying". Maybe the calendar makes it awkward for the NRL to implement now, but the last I read, the International Federation have locked in various tours over the next 6/8 years, involving Oz tours with UK (both ways), NZ tour here, GB tour to Australasia, World Cups, Pacific Island Tests, N Hemisphere Tests, 4 Nations here, and an International 9's Tournament, played alternatively in both hemispheres. A better programme than we've ever had.
2) The GB Tour to NZ has not been cancelled as far as today goes.
Samoa looks to be off the agenda now, replaced I believe with PNG. Always difficult to arrange games with the Pacific Islands teams as they don't have the stadiums, finance or infrastructure to host games in the likes of Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, etc and have to rely on stadiums in NZ - which, out of season may have been allocated other uses. But in general, the extra interest in these games is a bonus we've never had previously and they will continue to develop.
3) The new SL CEO (Rob Elstone) has only been in post a few months but already there's a more positive vibe around the game, as the top tier paves its own future, out of the operation of the RFL for the first time.
So I don't support, quote, a "dying" game at all, we're in a mode for change, certainly, but am optimistic with the progress of Elstone and the rules he's implemented, in such a short time. We have Toronto looking extremely ambitious, Newcastle growing steadily with a great CEO in Mick Hogan, we have a game at the Nou Camp, a new PlayOff formula for SL with greater strength in depth (look at England's recent performances in the W/Cup and NZ last November), with Warrington, Leeds, Cas, StH, us, Catalans, Wakey, possibly Salford and HKR all stronger than before, and a strong Championship.
It's not my quote, but I heard on some other forum a while back, talking about our own game's supporters, that if you speak to a ru fan, you come away feeling enthused; speak to a RL fan and you feel the need to speak to the Samaritans !
The Administrators' take on the situation is quoted below and refers exclusively to the club, Widnes and the manner in which they operated financially :-
"Describing the situation as rudderless, the experienced administrator added they are reluctant to sell players but concluded that the predicament is a result of the club spending more than they earn".
That's exactly the same as in any business, or in any other industry, is a recipe for disaster and why companies go bust, both in the high street, in manufacturing, and other trades, as well as in sport. It doesn't mean the industry as a whole is dying, as you state. Just in sport, it seems, business protocol goes out the window !
You say Bradford's gates are down from "Bullmania" days - of course they are, they are only playing in the Championship ! But they are still getting 5/6k and will continue to grow with success on the field. Remember when we were relegated, we were only getting 3/4k at CP ! York are growing and developing, on a firm financial footing, and have a new stadium on the horizon.
Leigh and Widnes you mention, have both spent money they ain't got, to chase the SL dream, and Widnes also went into Administration before, back in 2005 ! Both are only very small towns with low populations, so budgeting is even more a stricter criteria. Bradford are capable of 20,000k in SL.
As DaveO says, and I agree, Licensing is the best method in growing clubs organically, rather than them self imploding in the quest for SL, all on Championship or L1 gates, and then failing with disastrous results.
And ………….
1) No Oz Tours - is not an example that RL is "dying". Maybe the calendar makes it awkward for the NRL to implement now, but the last I read, the International Federation have locked in various tours over the next 6/8 years, involving Oz tours with UK (both ways), NZ tour here, GB tour to Australasia, World Cups, Pacific Island Tests, N Hemisphere Tests, 4 Nations here, and an International 9's Tournament, played alternatively in both hemispheres. A better programme than we've ever had.
2) The GB Tour to NZ has not been cancelled as far as today goes.
Samoa looks to be off the agenda now, replaced I believe with PNG. Always difficult to arrange games with the Pacific Islands teams as they don't have the stadiums, finance or infrastructure to host games in the likes of Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, etc and have to rely on stadiums in NZ - which, out of season may have been allocated other uses. But in general, the extra interest in these games is a bonus we've never had previously and they will continue to develop.
3) The new SL CEO (Rob Elstone) has only been in post a few months but already there's a more positive vibe around the game, as the top tier paves its own future, out of the operation of the RFL for the first time.
So I don't support, quote, a "dying" game at all, we're in a mode for change, certainly, but am optimistic with the progress of Elstone and the rules he's implemented, in such a short time. We have Toronto looking extremely ambitious, Newcastle growing steadily with a great CEO in Mick Hogan, we have a game at the Nou Camp, a new PlayOff formula for SL with greater strength in depth (look at England's recent performances in the W/Cup and NZ last November), with Warrington, Leeds, Cas, StH, us, Catalans, Wakey, possibly Salford and HKR all stronger than before, and a strong Championship.
It's not my quote, but I heard on some other forum a while back, talking about our own game's supporters, that if you speak to a ru fan, you come away feeling enthused; speak to a RL fan and you feel the need to speak to the Samaritans !