Fact he agrees with me helps
Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
Programmes are usually full of standard rubbish BUT IMO the Saints Chairman wrote brilliantly in the GF Programme re the health of SL.
Fact he agrees with me helps
Fact he agrees with me helps
Re: Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
Another decent read by the Braford Chairman
Hood hits out at Super League finances
(UKPA) – 1 day ago
As Bradford fans wait to discover if they will soon have a club to support, chairman Peter Hood has delivered a damning assessment of the financial state of Super League.
Hood has echoed recent comments by Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell and St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus who both insisted changes must be made in the administration of Super League if it is to have a sustainable future.
The Bulls director claims the annual average losses across Super League rose from £50,000 to £500,000 in six years from 2004-10, and said in his club's matchday programme for the Good Friday clash with Leeds: "Losses on this scale are being racked up year upon year and it is clubs' wealthy owners who are footing the bill."
He added: "Unless something changes, it won't be long before at least one Super League club is technically insolvent for more than £10million."
Bradford will provide a final figure in their attempts to raise £500,000 to help them pay a tax bill and foot the players' wages for this month on Saturday.
The signs are that enough money has been pledged to enable the club to stave off the immediate threat of administration but Hood says they will need another £500,000 before the end of the month to ensure their survival.
The Bulls are one of the Super League clubs without a wealthy backer and so live a hand-to-mouth existence but Hood reckons they are one of the more profitable clubs in Super League and expect to report a substantial profit before tax for the last financial year.
"Our problem is that we have no liquidity, a situation exacerbated by our bank's recent withdrawal of the club's overdraft facility," he said.
Bradford are thought to have received around £400,000 in pledges up to Friday's 5pm deadline and the fund-raising received a further boost from a bumper crowd of 20,821 for the Bulls' 12-4 win over Leeds.
Re: Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
I don't get what they are complaining about - they just want a bigger percentage of the TV money that they can get their clubs into bigger financial trouble with IMO.
Their clubs are in finanical trouble becuase they spend more money than they have. Give them more money and they will still spend more money than they have and get into bigger debt.
The real answer here is not one that most people will like, but IMO it is this: central ownership. All clubs are franchises from a central organisation. All earnings are returned to the central organisation and are allocated back to the individual franchises. The central organisation has all financial information about the health of franchises and the sport as a whole and can make decisions based on increasing the health of the competition, not the individual clubs.
What we have now is a sham of this system. How the hell can Bradford get a franchise and then immediately sell their ground to the RFL and almost go into administration. It exposes the "finanical health" criteria as total bullshit. The current franchise system is the worst form of closed shop - it has no meaningfull or consistent entry rules, but it pretends that it does. We'd be far better off just going back to promotion and relegation with exemptions for expansion teams, at least then the critieria are transparent and can't be fiddled behind closed doors. Who can say Halifax wouldn't have been a more viable SL club than Bradford this season - would they have gone into administration?
Their clubs are in finanical trouble becuase they spend more money than they have. Give them more money and they will still spend more money than they have and get into bigger debt.
The real answer here is not one that most people will like, but IMO it is this: central ownership. All clubs are franchises from a central organisation. All earnings are returned to the central organisation and are allocated back to the individual franchises. The central organisation has all financial information about the health of franchises and the sport as a whole and can make decisions based on increasing the health of the competition, not the individual clubs.
What we have now is a sham of this system. How the hell can Bradford get a franchise and then immediately sell their ground to the RFL and almost go into administration. It exposes the "finanical health" criteria as total bullshit. The current franchise system is the worst form of closed shop - it has no meaningfull or consistent entry rules, but it pretends that it does. We'd be far better off just going back to promotion and relegation with exemptions for expansion teams, at least then the critieria are transparent and can't be fiddled behind closed doors. Who can say Halifax wouldn't have been a more viable SL club than Bradford this season - would they have gone into administration?
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josie andrews
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Re: Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
RFL dismiss criticism
The Rugby Football League have responded to mounting criticism of their administration by claiming the Stobart Super League clubs have never enjoyed better financial support from the governing body.
Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell ruffled a few feathers at Red Hall last week when he described the game as "bankrupt" while St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus insisted at the weekend that Super League is not strong enough to sustain 14 clubs.
Both men were speaking in the wake of the financial crisis that is threatening to engulf Bradford Bulls, who say they have run out of money and are only halfway towards reaching the £1million in pledges they need to survive.
"I've said for a number of years there is a systemic commercial weakness in the way rugby league is structured and governed," McManus said.
An RFL spokesman insisted the governing body were aware of the clubs' difficulties and revealed that, between them, they will receive more than £30million in central funding this year.
"The RFL is, and always has been, available to speak with all clubs about any issues they are facing," said the spokesman.
"The governing body is working hard to help all member clubs through what are difficult economic conditions for all businesses and has a strong record in generating income on the clubs' behalf.
"At no point in the history of the sport have the clubs benefited from as much financial support from the centre as they currently receive: last year the RFL distributed a record £29.6m to clubs, up from £11.3m in 2001. That figure will be even higher in 2012.
"Of course, we would like to increase those distributions even further and are more than willing to work with clubs on ways in which we can develop new income streams.
"The Super League clubs meet regularly to decide policy and share good practice and the RFL will continue to work with all clubs to ensure they contribute to the shared goal of making Super League the best domestic rugby league competition in the world."
http://www.superleague.co.uk/article/rf ... cism/24805
The Rugby Football League have responded to mounting criticism of their administration by claiming the Stobart Super League clubs have never enjoyed better financial support from the governing body.
Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell ruffled a few feathers at Red Hall last week when he described the game as "bankrupt" while St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus insisted at the weekend that Super League is not strong enough to sustain 14 clubs.
Both men were speaking in the wake of the financial crisis that is threatening to engulf Bradford Bulls, who say they have run out of money and are only halfway towards reaching the £1million in pledges they need to survive.
"I've said for a number of years there is a systemic commercial weakness in the way rugby league is structured and governed," McManus said.
An RFL spokesman insisted the governing body were aware of the clubs' difficulties and revealed that, between them, they will receive more than £30million in central funding this year.
"The RFL is, and always has been, available to speak with all clubs about any issues they are facing," said the spokesman.
"The governing body is working hard to help all member clubs through what are difficult economic conditions for all businesses and has a strong record in generating income on the clubs' behalf.
"At no point in the history of the sport have the clubs benefited from as much financial support from the centre as they currently receive: last year the RFL distributed a record £29.6m to clubs, up from £11.3m in 2001. That figure will be even higher in 2012.
"Of course, we would like to increase those distributions even further and are more than willing to work with clubs on ways in which we can develop new income streams.
"The Super League clubs meet regularly to decide policy and share good practice and the RFL will continue to work with all clubs to ensure they contribute to the shared goal of making Super League the best domestic rugby league competition in the world."
http://www.superleague.co.uk/article/rf ... cism/24805
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
Re: Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
The fact that the RFL dismiss criticism beggars belief.
It was the RFL (obviously the clubs agreed) that introduced franchising on the basis that it would end clubs becoming embroiled in financial difficulties. IT CLEARLY HAS NOT DONE SO, FAR FROM IT.
I think it was Mike that posed the question, How can you be given a franchise and be allowed to sell stadia, carry significant financial difficulties etc etc SURELY a franchise should be conditional on for example SIGNFICANT FINANCIAL SAFEGUARDS / STADIA AGREEMENTS FOR THE TERM OF THE FRANCHISE?
RL is a niche sport in Britain and cannot sustain 14 SL clubs it never could. Absurdly, some were calling for expansion of SL not contraction.
THERE ARE ENOUGH POSTS HERE where I openly stated SL would be optimum at 8 clubs, function for other reasons at 10 clubs. Beyond that SL is unsustainable. Whatsmore, the Championship would be far more viable / sustainable with clubs dropping out from SL.
Internationally / Domestically a smaller SL makes sense!!!
It was the RFL (obviously the clubs agreed) that introduced franchising on the basis that it would end clubs becoming embroiled in financial difficulties. IT CLEARLY HAS NOT DONE SO, FAR FROM IT.
I think it was Mike that posed the question, How can you be given a franchise and be allowed to sell stadia, carry significant financial difficulties etc etc SURELY a franchise should be conditional on for example SIGNFICANT FINANCIAL SAFEGUARDS / STADIA AGREEMENTS FOR THE TERM OF THE FRANCHISE?
RL is a niche sport in Britain and cannot sustain 14 SL clubs it never could. Absurdly, some were calling for expansion of SL not contraction.
THERE ARE ENOUGH POSTS HERE where I openly stated SL would be optimum at 8 clubs, function for other reasons at 10 clubs. Beyond that SL is unsustainable. Whatsmore, the Championship would be far more viable / sustainable with clubs dropping out from SL.
Internationally / Domestically a smaller SL makes sense!!!
Re: Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
Maybe the sums add up with 8 clubs now ,but IMO that strategy leads to contraction of supporter numbers and long term failure. No matter how competitive ,fans get fed up of playing the same teams over and over again. Reduce the spread of the game and you reduce the tv money - suddenly only 6 teams are viable?
One thing that doesn't stack up here is that it is two heartland clubs who enjoy bis supports that are saying they have money problems. Don't kid yourself that their motivation is anything other than simply wanting a bigger slice of the sky money. They only care about being able to continue to mismanage their clubs but with more money ,theres no thought from them about the good of the game.
One thing that doesn't stack up here is that it is two heartland clubs who enjoy bis supports that are saying they have money problems. Don't kid yourself that their motivation is anything other than simply wanting a bigger slice of the sky money. They only care about being able to continue to mismanage their clubs but with more money ,theres no thought from them about the good of the game.
Re: Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
For sure Mike re clubs self interest and wanting a bigger slice of the cake to waste etc.
However, we need to be able to market our sport via TV / Media and IMO a contracted SL with less BUT better fixtures is the best way to do that IMO.
Do fans get bored of Wigan v Saints, Leeds, Wire? We used to play Saints and Wire more than we do now with the County Cups, JPS/Regal Trophy, Premiership etc than we do now.
I am not convinced our sport is any bigger re profile now than it was pre SL? Union has a much higher profile in large parts of Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire (No idea) despite no large professional presence in the localities.
However, we need to be able to market our sport via TV / Media and IMO a contracted SL with less BUT better fixtures is the best way to do that IMO.
Do fans get bored of Wigan v Saints, Leeds, Wire? We used to play Saints and Wire more than we do now with the County Cups, JPS/Regal Trophy, Premiership etc than we do now.
I am not convinced our sport is any bigger re profile now than it was pre SL? Union has a much higher profile in large parts of Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire (No idea) despite no large professional presence in the localities.
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exile in Tiger country
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- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:37 pm
Re: Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
I fail to see how fewer SL clubs can result in a better competition.
It would surely lead to far fewer full time professional players, resulting in lowering of standards generally in the game. This would mean fewer people watching the game, especially as I suppose SKy would have less interest.
Assuming the top eight become the future of Superleague, we would have, from last year:
Wire
Wigan
Saints
Huddersfield
Leeds
Catalan
Hull KR and
Hull.
Can anyone realistically see this years top eight being drastically different?
Assuming again that the paymasters at SKY would not want two teams from Hull in the league(Advertising is everything remember) then we have Castleford next, followed by the financial disaster that is Bradford.
How do these teams make the competition stronger?
If we use any other method, then we are bound to have a team from Lonodon(advertsing, remember) which will in no way improve the standard of play. I am not one for expansion at all coats, however reducing the number of teams, would surely reduce the drive to spread the word about the game furter afield. Fewer teams playing each other more often does not lead to a better competition. The Scottish football system surely proves this. How often does a team other than Rangers or Celtic win the competition?
It would surely lead to far fewer full time professional players, resulting in lowering of standards generally in the game. This would mean fewer people watching the game, especially as I suppose SKy would have less interest.
Assuming the top eight become the future of Superleague, we would have, from last year:
Wire
Wigan
Saints
Huddersfield
Leeds
Catalan
Hull KR and
Hull.
Can anyone realistically see this years top eight being drastically different?
Assuming again that the paymasters at SKY would not want two teams from Hull in the league(Advertising is everything remember) then we have Castleford next, followed by the financial disaster that is Bradford.
How do these teams make the competition stronger?
If we use any other method, then we are bound to have a team from Lonodon(advertsing, remember) which will in no way improve the standard of play. I am not one for expansion at all coats, however reducing the number of teams, would surely reduce the drive to spread the word about the game furter afield. Fewer teams playing each other more often does not lead to a better competition. The Scottish football system surely proves this. How often does a team other than Rangers or Celtic win the competition?
I've never seen a woman with hairy ears, and I've been to St Helens." John Bishop
"BANG,CRASH,WALLOP, TRY". E. Hemmings describing Palea'asina's try against KR, Play off 26/09/09
"BANG,CRASH,WALLOP, TRY". E. Hemmings describing Palea'asina's try against KR, Play off 26/09/09
Re: Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
Players playing with/against better players IMPROVE
We do not have enough players for a SL of identical number to the NRL so we get poor players home grown / overseas resulting in very mediocre teams WHO in turn drag everybody down in the competition.
If you ever read any interview with any player re the difference between the NRL and SL it is that every team is quality and you cannot switch off v anybody. Yes we have the odd blip (E.G Widnes) BUT are Wakefield truly competitive? (Discarded players nobody wants) Is it any wonder Widnes find it so difficult (last place in the line for discarded players nobody wants)
Does anybody get excited when Wakey are in town? OR do you get excited when Wire, Saints, Leeds etc turn up?
It is a no brainer IMO re quality. To fill 8 or 10 squads with quality has to be far easier than 14.
We do not have enough players for a SL of identical number to the NRL so we get poor players home grown / overseas resulting in very mediocre teams WHO in turn drag everybody down in the competition.
If you ever read any interview with any player re the difference between the NRL and SL it is that every team is quality and you cannot switch off v anybody. Yes we have the odd blip (E.G Widnes) BUT are Wakefield truly competitive? (Discarded players nobody wants) Is it any wonder Widnes find it so difficult (last place in the line for discarded players nobody wants)
Does anybody get excited when Wakey are in town? OR do you get excited when Wire, Saints, Leeds etc turn up?
It is a no brainer IMO re quality. To fill 8 or 10 squads with quality has to be far easier than 14.
Re: Saints Chairman Speaks Sense
JUST TO ADD;
If you want the best young players, they too need to be playing against the best week in week out. As a youngster I often played sport in a higher age group. You got hammered at times BUT when you came back to your own age group it was easy street.
In sport you learn far more from intense week in week out MEANINGFUL competition.
If you want the best young players, they too need to be playing against the best week in week out. As a youngster I often played sport in a higher age group. You got hammered at times BUT when you came back to your own age group it was easy street.
In sport you learn far more from intense week in week out MEANINGFUL competition.