It isn't a business, not in any regular sense. A business' leadership doesn't have to deal with its own departments making public outbursts or having seperate agendas. In a business it does what the top tells it to, the top is where ALL the power is. That's not the case with RL.

As Bramley says the RFL have limited power over determining the RL market for sponsors due to those conflicting agendas. If the RFL wanted to change the type of person who watches RL to one that is richer, they can't just go and do that because clubs agendas are different. The RFL is obviously trying to expand our market hence the internationals in London and now Liverpool & Coventry. But they're one off games, the regular bread and butter is SL. Which has, on the whole, a market that sponsors aren't too bothered about.

Of course you get some, like at Warrington but it also depends how much money they're putting in. I'm sure a blue chip company would take the SL sponsorship of you offered to them for sod all. But we can't afford to turn down money either.

As for Australia, the NRL are in a far stronger position to negotiate and, crucially, have set schedules for their big games. As we do over here. We know when the Cup Final and Grand Final are going to be each year. It's the games we don't know are actually happening until relatively late. And then we're negotiating with football clubs. Liverpool aren't going to shift a home game for us so they need to wait until they know it's available. Same goes for Ricoh etc etc.

I'm constantly amazed at the attitude that somehow the RFL are all to blame for the lack of decent sponsors. The sport is to blame. We bankrupted ourselves in the 80's & 90's and STILL haven't recovered. We have no money, small support and a poor market for sponsorship.

You could put the RFU's negotiating team in at Red Hall and it would make no difference whatsoever.

What will is altering the make-up of the sport so that more areas of the country are involved and aware of RL. And of course increasing awareness in the heartlands would be beneficial too whenever the clubs decide to pull their fingers out. We call it the heartlands but it's not an indication of strength in that area, it's just where we're least weak.

You do understand what he seems to be suggesting? I might have this wrong from the headlines but he's talking about a new league set up by the 12 SL chairmen. There doesn't seem to be a place at the table for the Championship or other clubs.
"He said that the future of Rugby League lies in the hands of the competition’s 12 chairmen, saying he’s hopeful of arranging a meeting within the next fortnight."
I'd be careful about what is and isn't being suggested.

It is a business in every sense. Until we stop pretending that sport is magically different from every other business and our sport is different to any other we will never make any headway.

Not having somewhere to play organised early enough to sell the games property isn't unfortunate circumstance it's just bad business.

Not having value to Blue chip sponsors isn't some conspiracy or bad luck it's bad business creating a bad image through bad decisions.

It's no wonder that blue chip companies don't want involvement with a game that thinks marketing begins and ends with tickets for a fiver and a free beanie hat or some soup.



The RFL is the centralised leadership of the game. What is the sports failure is there failure. That's what they are taking millions of pounds out of the tv contract for. If all they are responsible for is to put on the cc final and organise referees then we can do that for a hundred grand.

There is a point at which we can no longer blame what happened 35 years ago.

I don't think that's what he meant. I took it as it's in the hands of the chairmen to vote no confidence and force through change

Although I do agree he hasn't considered anyone outside of super league, as is so often the case

But not for what's consumed in meetings... those biscuits aren't going to pay for themselves.

If the other Chairmen ever vote to support a breakaway league with Koukash at the forefront, I'll bare my arrse on't Town Hall steps. Doubt many would even bother turning up to such a meeting.

One issue MK did raise that I wasn't aware of was when he mentioned that SL clubs pay Catalans expenses when they come over here. I could understand us doing that for the first couple of seasons in SL but surely they are established and viable enough for them to pay their own way? Other than that, he needs to pick his dummy back up and get on with running his club.

With tonight's news on Widnes being guilty of having 14 players on the field not once but twice in the same game.
I'm looking at the end of the regular fixtures and hoping Widnes finish eight just a couple of points above other clubs and see who misses out on the top eight and who goes in the middles.

He specifically said that he isn't interested in heading anything, and that he considers himself a novice chairman who would default to more experienced CEO's.

Wigan, wire, saints Leeds, Catalans, hull and hudds won't support Koukash.
I doubt Widnes would and probably not Cas.
That leaves Salford, KR and Wakey - even though he's completely ignored the championship clubs in his rant they would probably be interested in joining him- shame he peed off Bradford and Leigh they would probably have joined him.

Zzzzz

"According to our sources, there is only two clubs completely opposed to breaking away in any form. Widnes and Leeds are believed to be those two clubs, with Koukash's advances already finding favour with several disillusioned chairman. As usual, interesting times ahead in rugby league." www.loverugbyleague.com/news_220 ... ip-36.html?

"According to our sources, there is only two clubs completely opposed to breaking away in any form. Widnes and Leeds are believed to be those two clubs, with Koukash's advances already finding favour with several disillusioned chairman. As usual, interesting times ahead in rugby league." www.loverugbyleague.com/news_220 ... ip-36.html?

Of course Widnes don't want to break away - they just got off lightly with fielding 14 players (twice).

This sport is becoming a joke day by day.

I agree it the doc. We need change why continue on this downward spiral, as a sport we are struggling. We need a big change but don't think the chairman running it is right, we need new innovative people in and need to push forward. Would to see a champs league with the nrl but omg a better salary cap will help this