He RFL shut an office or the Broncos ?

The RFL.

The loss of development officers is probably more serious to the long term future of RL down here than our immediate future tbh. To be fair I believe the decision was driven by a substantial loss of central funding to the RFL (due to a decline in playing numbers meaning previous participation targets were missed) rather than a loss of interest.

I'm hearing it is basically down to a ground now. A potential deal has been brokered, largely thanks to the RFL who are keen for us to carry on. We just need to come up with a ground acceptable, and that doesn't necessarily mean up to SL standard, and a method of funding said ground. Which basically means one David is happy to pay for and the RFL think is good enough. I'm hearing Gillingham is dead in the water - a Broncos decision decision credit to them for that.

In which case I'd hope that The Hive is the option. Looks decent and with some vaguely well thought out marketing could be filled when the bigger clubs come to town. Hell, it shouldn't be hat had for the Broncos to fill it for most games !

Brian Berwick in an interview yesterday, sent out a mixed message about our future, what a great lot of good he has done since joining the RFL, he makes a great partner with Nigel!

The capacity of Hull KR's ground is only 8,500 and after how many years existence.

Dr Marwan Koukash was seriously criticised about his comments about spending with Salford, Featherstone Rovers majority shareholder Feisal Nahaboo, should be seriously rapped for his comments in the week of the Tetley's Challenge Cup Final, but doubt the RFL & Woods would have the guts!

yeah, the loss of development officers was a massive blow and one that perhaps hasnt truly been felt yet.Add the Broncos demise to the mix and it's a sad situation.
As for the RFL possibly stepping in to do the Academy - for what it's worth I asked Mr Rimmer that very question face to face a few weeks ago (three?) and he said that it would be "criminally insane" to let the good work that's gone on in London go down the drain. Obviously he may have just been fobbing me off but that's what he said.
As for the ground - it's Barnet or bust surely? And I would suspect the reason nothing has been said is that the Broncos have no idea if they will be allowed to play there. If they arent then I cant see any other options. As it is I think we have to accept Championship RL as the best case scenario for next season - no way they can put a team out next season good enough for the SL. We're diabolical this season, next....I shudder to think.

Quote ="jaybs"Brian Berwick in an interview yesterday, sent out a mixed message about our future, what a great lot of good he has done since joining the RFL, he makes a great partner with Nigel! The capacity of Hull KR's ground is only 8,500 and after how many years existence. Dr Marwan Koukash was seriously criticised about his comments about spending with Salford, Featherstone Rovers majority shareholder Feisal Nahaboo, should be seriously rapped for his comments in the week of the Tetley's Challenge Cup Final, but doubt the RFL & Woods would have the guts!'" It may have been when the ground opened in 1989 but as of 2011 it was 10000 and will increase when the new North Stand opens. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craven_Park,_Hull www.worldstadia.com/stadium/engl ... m/1137.php www.hullkr.co.uk/club-community/ ... nd-updates

Quote ="jaybs"Brian Berwick in an interview yesterday, sent out a mixed message about our future, what a great lot of good he has done since joining the RFL, he makes a great partner with Nigel! The capacity of Hull KR's ground is only 8,500 and after how many years existence. Dr Marwan Koukash was seriously criticised about his comments about spending with Salford, Featherstone Rovers majority shareholder Feisal Nahaboo, should be seriously rapped for his comments in the week of the Tetley's Challenge Cup Final, but doubt the RFL & Woods would have the guts!'" It may have been when the ground opened in 1989 but as of 2011 it was 10000 and will increase when the new North Stand opens. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craven_Park,_Hull www.worldstadia.com/stadium/engl ... m/1137.php www.hullkr.co.uk/club-community/ ... nd-updates

So a precedence for a sub 10,000 stadium as long as potential to expand over time.

Unlikely but a best case scenario would be in a position to spend to the cap, signings have already been made but kept secret, the Hive is already a done deal just being kept secret and that new investors are to be announced.

Even better we are stronger on the field and avoid at least the bottom two.

One can but dream.

And one for those planning 2015 at Red Hall that two of the best supported teams in the league have a mare of a season and finish in the bottom two.

Now that would be as funny as f**k







Should be interesting next year to see the clubs spending to the cap to stay up with regards to:
1. Someone breaking the cap and having points docked immediately
2, The financial backlash and ramifications in 2015 of overspending in 2014.


As for London...The Hive, with a 10 year lease, either as a SL or CH club and a clear and documented plan as to where they want to see progress and how quickly.

Not sure when the capacity increased to 10000 but IIRC was before 2010, only used 2011 as that's quoted in the first 2 links.
Initial ground capacity for 1989/90 season at New Craven Park was left low as club was in (then) 2nd division & land left to settle at southern end of ground rather than spend on what club saw as unneeded capacity. (Was told by HKR director that end of ground could have been developed to terracing ready for ground opening but to leave earth to 'settle' meant they saved a large sum & they didn't expect huge crowds apart from the opening game - remember how many some clubs brought to Chiswick in that season ?)

Our attendances this season are dire because the team is so poor(same as last year) and fans will not come to see them incessantly thrashed!! Next season will probably be worse as we cant get the aussies here now, the better players up north WONT move down here so we will be left with the youth!?

Do you seriously think that the thought of Leeds or Wire putting 100 points past us is going to entice our supporters to turn up in thousands and FILL IT?

The thought of a weaker side than this one playing next year would be disastrous. If we have a weaker side we should drop into the Champ. None of the current rumours seem feasible.

Best case scenario....... DH tracks down Mr Abromovich or another PL football owner and he takes over funding the club. Builds us a stadium somewhere and pumps £££ into the LB's. Half of them are sport freaks (you need to be to invest in a sports club) so I can only see someone in a position like this taking a chance on us.

All other options will see us drop a league and continue our nomadic existance.

That has to be a minimum, if we survive. it needs some clear targets/milestones which CEO/Coach etc have to meet or......................... i dont know what the hell is happening, but i wouldnt favour dropping down? We may have spent to the cap this year - but with some poor players, i think a decent coach could attract a few players with potential and we could avoid bottonm too, but i am ever the optimist!

Despite a ground move being the CEO's #1 priority for this season, I have very little confidence that factors like continuity of the development programme will have been a factor. Basically there are very few suitable options, something that was blatantly obvious before the whole wild goose chase started. Ironically, Gus has increased the number of viable options by allowing crowds to slide down to such pitiful levels.

I think if you look at the 2013 squad, you'll note that there's a fair slice of salary sitting in the stands

* Unavailable for the majority of the season - Randall, Howell (probably about £200ks worth)
* Unavailable for most of the second half of the season - Bailey, Gower, Lovell, Channing (probably about £400ks worth)
* Available on an irregular basis - Robertson, Dorn, Colbon, Clubb, Rodney, Wheeldon and Sarginson (probably about £500ks worth)

That's about 13 players costing around £1 million of salary who will largely not be here next year, or if so hopefully able to upgrade their appearance ratio

Shedding most of these cannot disadvantage you in any way in my view

Whatever happens I think it would be stupid to let this club of yours die, even if it does mean a Period of rebuilding in a lower league, Cas managed it without a sugar daddy after 2 relegations ( neither deserved , wigans cheating the cap and Catalans exemption from the drop) .

Just one thing , your supporters need to drop that massive M62 chip from your shoulders as I think you will find most are willing you to survive.

Good luck from the team that the RFL can't kill ........Cas

All this spouting from Featherstone's major shareholder this week, as I have said before when the media should have been concentrating on The Challenge Cup, and what stands out clear, the silence from Red Hall and Nigel himself! he seems to have gone under ground.

All these who claim 100% confidence in the RFL, well I would not buy a £1,000 second hand car from Nige!

To be fair to Fev / their main shareholder I can't see what he has done wrong. He was asked by the media whether Fev could step up for next season. If you read his reply he says yes but makes it clear they don't want to. He says it would not be ideal and makes it obvious they won't approach the league but will talk if the league asks them to help out. He's not exactly demanding we be lobbed out and Fev admitted for next season.

To be honest if a SL team does go belly up good luck to Fev. They've done an impressive job in building things up in recent years. Unlike us.

So dafty you've saved £1m now what you going to fill the gap with?

I'm not quite sure the original comment made by Feisal Nahaboo, is as some interpret it here, he may have the funding, but IF any club were to withdraw from Super League in 2014, it could be run with 13 teams for one season, it would be completely wrong for one club to be given a place, just down to financial claims. Feisal, could easily have stated, we are building a case to compete for a Super League place in 2015, but we know that most likely will have to be earned on the pitch! Note also that Featherstone, released a statement, not sure that is the media approaching them.

The RFL were not helpful, when negotiations are still proceeding with London, with just some points to be confirmed, note they never mentioned any concerns with Wakefield, debts to Inland Revenue and 9 County Court judgements against them, or Bradford?


YORKSHIRE POST

“The RFL have some concerns and have been speaking to London Broncos over the last seven days,” a league spokesman said.

If the Broncos – formed as Fulham in 1980 – were to pull out of Super League, the RFL could operate a 13-team competition in 2014 but Featherstone have issued a statement insisting they would be in a position to step in.

Rovers’ majority shareholder Feisal Nahaboo says the Kingstone Press Championship club have access to a seven-figure sum to enable them to be competitive in the top flight.

“Whilst not ideal, we can be ready to mix with the greats of rugby league,” said Nahaboo. “We certainly deserve it. We’ve won the league three years on the trot and this year’s shield is in our hands. Statistics don’t lie and it would be farcical if space became available and we weren’t offered entry.

“We own our ground and we have a strong board with at least two key shareholders generating seven-figure profits from businesses they run successfully and own.

“We’ve seen Dr Marwan Koukash take on Salford City Reds and I’m sure he will show his value to the sport next year. I’m no different. Give the club a chance and we strengthen Super League.”

Featherstone were division one champions in 1977 and won the Challenge Cup for the third time in 1983 but missed out when Super League was introduced in 1996.

Quote from Yorkshire Post

Eve of Destruction?

Check out The Pontefract and Castleford Express report. The one you are citing omits both his comments that it would not be ideal for Fev to play in Superleague 2014 and his comment they will not approach the RFL about a Superleague place in 2014. Not exactly a bloke lobbying for us to be thrown out.

The RFL are well aware of issues at other clubs. We aren't the only club they are talking to at the moment. Quite how it would help the other club if the RFL went public with details is beyond me. With us its a matter of public record we have no ground for next season, a very different position

I have checked facts again, and as I originally stated, Featherstone Rovers released a statement, that is what the Yorkshire Post used. Some people with money, can at times make comments off the top of their head, Bradford's owners did when they were looking to take over the club, and then choose to clarify in a little more detail, when advised to do so.

I know, the RFL are aware of the problems at other clubs, and these serious problems are also on public the record. I'm not sure what you mean, when you say "[iQuite how it would help the other club if the RFL went public with details is beyond me[/i"

I stand by, the RFL could have released a more general statement, not concentrating on one club London, the same with Featherstone Rovers, may have been better saying nothing at this stage. That is my opinion, and how I would have handled the situation.

Yes everyone is aware that our tenure at The Stoop finishes at the end of the season, I think it is clear, the rent we pay is not sustainable, and from some actions at the way we have been treated, are we needed or wanted any longer?

Bumped into Tony Rea on Friday afternoon and had a long chat with him. Let's just say most of the theories posted on here are utter rubbish and he found them most amusing. There were 4 main conclusions:

1. There is 0 chance of us remaining at The Stoop next year.
2. There is 0 chance of the club voluntarily dropping down to the Championship.
3. There is 0 chance of us playing in Super League with a scratch squad.
4. We are heavily reliant on the actions of Anthony Kleanthous.

No.1 and 2 are no surprise to me.

With no.3 we have not offered contracts to any of the current players and any decent players Up North who might be 'bribed' to move down will allready have signed for 2014. I think we've all given up on NRL players coming here now havn't we so doesn't this mean its all over?

No.4 is this guy a RL fan as well or are we just depending on a financially favourable deal from him to make it viable continuing at the Hive?