This seems like a real down beat thread. Is the lockdown getting to everyone?

Maybe, WQ but with the virus stuff plenty of news that's depressing but with Broncos there's no news & depressing.

What do expect of a sports club? The product they sell is rugby league, there is no rugby league to sell at the moment. Up until a few hours ago, there was no news. Now there is news it will not be good enough for some as it was not delivered in person to your front door by DH in person.
The club does not show any respect for some on here! What the heck does that mean? I support the club because i love the game, if when they can, they put the best team out within the finances they have, then they have achieved the aim!

They’ve been shrouded in secrecy and deafening in their silence.

While other clubs have been busy and public heading into 2021, London Broncos have been glaringly quiet over the last few months.

The only club yet to make a signing and whispers of a potential move to part-time status have left many asking concerned questions about the Broncos and their future.

In reality, the club has had many difficult decisions to make.

In the space of 12 months, London have gone from receiving £1.8m in central funding to just £300,000 next season. Relegation from the top flight saw them receive a £500,000 parachute payment this year but with that now gone, London’s distribution is a sixth of what it was when they were in Super League.

That, inevitably, has resulted in the club having tough conversations and left to consider many facets of their business.

But after great deliberation, long-serving owner David Hughes has opted to keep the Broncos squad full-time next season as they plot their attack on the Championship, and a potential return to Super League.

“I wasn’t the best at maths in school but I could work out that drop in distribution didn’t look great,” admitted head coach Danny Ward, who is now in the planning process ahead of a pre-season return next month.

“If you asked me to put a fiver in I’d be kicking and screaming so fair play to David for all the money he’s put in over the years and continues to put in. He’s Mr London Broncos so fair play to him.

“Looking at the bigger picture of the world and the financial markets beyond Rugby League you can see why it needed to be a considered decision.

“It took time and it has been a frustrating time. But we’re all healthy and being paid on time so there are a lot of people worse off than us.”

Ward accepts that he is now behind many of the other clubs in building his squad for next season, though that isn’t something that concerns him.

“Other clubs have been making signing after signing while we’ve not been making much noise. I can imagine questions have been getting asked.

“Currently I’m trying to re-sign the lads out of contract. The priority is promoting lads from reserves and Academy grade this week, we like being a group of homegrown lads.

“Once we’ve done that it will take us up to 75% of our squad being Academy grown which is something we’re pretty proud of.

“Then we’ll look back and see where we need to strengthen. It’s been a slow process but we’re not panicking, lads will be falling out of Super League systems, clubs will be shaking up their squad and making changes and we’ll see what’s about. I don’t like to rush or panic, players will become available and we’ll be in a good position to recruit them as others have recruited early.

“We won’t be panic buying like it’s Christmas Eve. Not being full-time means there isn’t as much financial strain on other clubs and with the furlough system they’ve been in a decent position.”

After a summer of uncertainty, Ward is now desperate to return to the training field.

“I’ve forgotten what to do so I’ll have to test the kids out and beast them!

“We’ve been chatting with the staff the last few weeks for some ideas with pre-season. It gets you fired up and the Mrs will be glad to see the back of me. It falls in line with when we’d normally come back so it works out perfect, pre-season will be a bit longer, the season will may be put back a month so it will be a bit longer, which is another reason we’re not quite panicking about signings.

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POSTS REMAINING

For those that have not seen it yet

I don't think the club has shown a lack of respect for fans but they could have shown more interest in engaging with fans throughout this period. For example, at the start of lockdown I seem to remember some classic games were made available on YouTube which brought back some great memories. There were also videos from players of training in isolation. Then things seemed to dry up. Perhaps more could have been done to have a virtual 40 year celebration e.g. through online interviews with London legends. I'm sure there are plenty of ways to keep the interaction going even if future plans are unclear. The club will need its fans more than ever when we come through this.

Monkey is the bunch of fresh bananas a place in SL? Let’s get excited.....

I’m not sure how much longer I can hold in the excitement.

Any news Monkey.

It's all horse , I feel for those that donated your season ticket money , you've been mugged off good and proper.

I am told that there will be exciting news on the 2nd December. My expectation is not too high.

Are we signing Boris the Bruiser then? Niffty hand off, well against kids anyway.

I did wonder if they were putting a Christmas tree up in Trailfinders on Dec 2nd.

Is this it? https://twitter.com/johnnyddavidson/sta ... 9079946240

Is this it? https://twitter.com/johnnyddavidson/sta ... 9079946240

It had to be a move! which ground? Sad how some in the north, have to be so negative, especially from one club!

Plough Lane.

There’s so, so many questions.

I traded Broncos in for Skolars a long time ago. The contempt the club held its fans in, whilst I travelled the best part of four hours across London, there and back, on a weekend after sitting on the Tube from Monday-Friday took its toll and I reverted to Skolars. I’ve been to Barnet, I’ve been to Ealing and despite its likeness to an amateur Union venue, the noises the club made in terms of everyone playing from one ground and training at the venue too, along with the stand behind the sticks and talk of offices going in under it for the club, was positive.

The only reason this could be is that Monday is seeing a Broncos return to Super League. Maybe there’s new investment too, it seems a strange moving from an ageing Hughes, who’ll look to wind down in the coming years.

The Simian said the news wasn't dependant on the SL decision.