Quote: Bullseye "Obviously it's going to be a protracted period of negotiations between now and the end of the season then.
I'm sure I read somewhere that the ABC Consortium had copied in the other SL clubs to their offer. That can't be right surely? To mangle your analogy that'd be like writing down your chess moves and copying them to the other players.
If it's a game of poker between the RFL and potential buyers it's a shame the administrator decided to make the coaching/backroom staff redundant immediately. That to me seemed like a mistake given the lengthy period of negotiation with a team of players but no staff. I'm not sure what message he was intending to send with that one.
I think once Potter and staff depart that will do more to foster a feeling of "being doomed". However while he and the team continue to perform against all the odds there'll be more energy than ever behind them. If anything the energy on the terraces has been all the greater since this all began. Hopefully this mess won't result in that spirit being lost, because if that happens all those mixed up in this can hang their heads in shame.'"
I would doubt any other clubs will have been copied in to any consortium bid in its initial submission. RFL protocol/agreement may however forward key elements therein that could affect member clubs, without the strategic business elements attached (as you point out, chess moves etc).
My core concern would be the presence of two key SL member clubs being primary movers in trying to ensure we don't remain in Super League; for the sake of argument, let's say Huddersfield and St Helen's. Indeed such clubs may well wish to see us complete our fixtures and fulfill the 2012 calendar obligations with an immediate penalty of relegation post season. The RFL may feel suitably pressured by this, especially given the influence of Chairman (let's hypothetically suggest Davy and McManus) in their summary of the consortium bids.
Obviously all speculation and both those clubs would never dream of that.