www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... -Neil.html Personally, whilst I somewhat agree about 14 teams being too many, can't see what major effect it will have had on Bradford's plight.

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... -Neil.html Personally, whilst I somewhat agree about 14 teams being too many, can't see what major effect it will have had on Bradford's plight.

Here's what appears to be the 1st page of his letter



I'd love to know what percentage of the £8 millions accumulated debt, he has been responsible for. Hull KR have been showing annual losses of around £200k since joining SuperLeague

He also appears to be under the misapprehension that Sky would continue pouring the same amount of money into the game, should the number of teams reduce.

Their annual loses have been around half a million since they joined super league. It was last years accounts that showed a loss of £200'000. Which they were really chuffed about. This year will be back to at least half a million will the reduction in capacity and the loss of the derby

Hull KR don't lose a derby they might switch it to the KC in which they would probably make more money than if they held it at MS3 Craven park. If they don't switch it then Hull KR still have a game at home. I don't see how that counts as losing a derby, if your eyes it does then fair enough

Its no different in any other sport and RL has beenlike for years and years.

Is he new to the game?

That's ok then, best not debate it....

just sayin'

It's time they reduced the salary cap if this is the case. I fully agree with him that 14 clubs is unsustainable. It is, but not only from a financial perspective, the player depth isn't sufficient to produce 14 sides of reasonable quality. 10 would be the optimum number, but at the moment are there even that number of clubs? The likes of Salford, Wakefield, Bradford, Hull KR and Widnes really don't belong in an Elite competition as they are currently.

Thats a good statement coming from a fan of a club thats been heammorraging losses year on year, despite its success. Out of interest, what brings you to mention the clubs you have?

Maybe if they only lined the pockets of 4 or 5 overseas players instead of 12, it would be more sustainable. Same with other SL clubs as well.

If Hudgell had wanted to debate the issue he could have done. He could have issued a release to the press in Hull outlining his concerns about the number of clubs who make losses and rely on wealthy owners and then he could have said what he thought a possible solution was.

But he didn't. He just issued a "blame the RFL" bitchy release. Which is just bizarre considering that the RFL have consistently had to drag the clubs kicking and screaming into further oversight and regulation. His comments about money being wasted on "expansionist policies" are frankly very strange given what we've just recently discovered about Bradford.

It just comes across as a bitchy press release so that he can point to Bradford and jump and down and say "see I was right along!" despite the fact he's been leading his own club down a similarly unstable path through continued high losses. If he's concerned about those losses then he knows what do.

It seems that Mr Hudgell is becoming confused; he's hanging all his arguments on the convenient and admittedley topical Bradford situation, but very little of what he's describing has any relevance to the pickle the Bulls find themselves in.

There's probably something worthy of debate in his letter - RL's over-reliance on the largesse of a few wealthy individuals for example - but his decision to pad out the letter with RLfans staple subjects: 'reduce the number of teams in the league,' 'stop expansion' and 'aren't the RFL crap' - undermines the credibility of the whole exercise.

Troll.

I wonder how happy he would be to reduce the number of teams in the league if one of those dropped were HKR.

I find this absolutely pathetic from Hudgell. No one is forcing Hull KR to lose money, if he doesnt want to then he should cut his cloth accordingly, as every club should. There is no reason for any SL club to go bankrupt if they live within their means. It is simple economics and it certainly isnt a reason for SL to be cut. I dont mind 2 Hull clubs being in a 14 team SL as I think it adds something but I certainly wouldnt want 2 places being taken up in just a 12 team SL, particulalry if Hull KR are struggling as much as Hudgell indicates.