Quote: markrammond "There was a reason for each of the previous moves...
Harlequins RU negotiated a deal with the Broncos which gave the Broncos a free ride on a Matchday, however the Union Club benefitted from their brand being paraded around, and also the Broncos paid for things like an after match party which filled their bars with takings for themselves. They had an option to buy in after a few years for one pound. There appears to have been little thought about what happened if they didn't buy in. Once the initial deal elapsed, the Union Club wanted tens of thousands a game, plus a large share of the takings. This was perceived as not worthwhile by the Broncos.'"
So to be clear. Hughes and his CEO thought £225k a year and a slice of the bar too much, especially when wearing the hosts kit in 2012 but Hughes and his CEO now think that deal perfectly fine in 2022.....just with 3,000 fewer fans delivering £60k less in gate receipts?
Hughes butchered the relationship with Quins and personally I believe he wasn't keen from the start, but Lenagan drove the bus at the time. Once the business minded folk had left, the egos took over and even when the RFL pleaded with Hughes to sort out the sharp decline in crowds and even helped with marketing the WCC warm ups, he blindly ploughed ahead with disasterous appointment after the next resulting in the ultimate act of a narcissist.......deciding to walk away when your team gets hammered. This from a man who begged fans to return this year after a decade+ of being surplus to his needs.