Well yeah but the Crusaders and Bradford things were more than just a "We're in a recession now". Hence why I say we are now paying the price.

Sorry but are you trying to say that the RFL's present problems are due to supporting Crusaders and Bradford. Weren't those debts iae guaranteed by charges against the respective stadiums (and already repaid in the case of Crusaders)

No.

Crusaders have not paid their debts and the debt is never likely to be paid. The 700k might be secured against the stadium but that means nothing.

Bradford pay rent. The RFL won't have had anything like their initial outlay repaid.

I know you like the last word, but is Football & Rugby Union not in a recession, other sports that get TV coverage like Super League does, do obtain major financial sponsorship, the reality regardless of what may have happened years ago with the Celtic League, and is Fact The RFL has now failed for two [ast season's to obtain major financial sponsorship for Super League, that is why they are having to make the current cuts, which I agree with Ian Lenaghan is not acceptable. When this happens in industry or commerce someone has to take responsibility & suffer the consequences.

We're clearly not comparable with soccer and much as I would like us to be comparable with RU we aren't.

As a sport we're the fourth largest team sport in the UK (cricket being the other). We have never been able to get deals like the other sports and that's done to our precarious position (on-going since 1895). WHilst I agree that Woods has done buggerall about it and should probably go, he didn't cause this problem.

If you look at the attendances in the top flight for RU, they are about the same as RL, however, the ticket prices are about 50% higher. That's why they generally get better deals than we do. Their fans have more money.

Quote: gutterfax "What has Wood done that needs to be applauded? Difficult period? The Welsh farce was purely down to bad decisions being made at the RFL, as was the Stobart deal. The troubles at Bradford (3 owners inside 2 years), Wakefield, London and Salford (nearly) are not his issue, yet he involves himself heavily in 2 of them but ignores the other 2. The NRail cup is no more, he has tried to placate the Championship Clubs by buying them with SL TV money and binning licencing, something a majority of SL clubs now seem to have an issue with and the premier comp in Europe is still without a naming sponsor 3 years after Engage announced they were offski! I for one a thrilled that IL and the dissenters have chosen to have a go during the RLWC.....Wood will quite happily take all the credit for what has been a great comp and try to use this as a position of strength.....I suspect he will have to back down on a number of issues or face being in charge of a sport that is missing it's top 13 English draw-cards....he can then fight BARLA for control of what's left of the game below Super League.'" Even the Aussies saw this coming. www.leaguefreak.com/what-shall-w ... ncos-6201/

Quote: gutterfax "What has Wood done that needs to be applauded? Difficult period? The Welsh farce was purely down to bad decisions being made at the RFL, as was the Stobart deal. The troubles at Bradford (3 owners inside 2 years), Wakefield, London and Salford (nearly) are not his issue, yet he involves himself heavily in 2 of them but ignores the other 2. The NRail cup is no more, he has tried to placate the Championship Clubs by buying them with SL TV money and binning licencing, something a majority of SL clubs now seem to have an issue with and the premier comp in Europe is still without a naming sponsor 3 years after Engage announced they were offski! I for one a thrilled that IL and the dissenters have chosen to have a go during the RLWC.....Wood will quite happily take all the credit for what has been a great comp and try to use this as a position of strength.....I suspect he will have to back down on a number of issues or face being in charge of a sport that is missing it's top 13 English draw-cards....he can then fight BARLA for control of what's left of the game below Super League.'" Even the Aussies saw this coming. www.leaguefreak.com/what-shall-w ... ncos-6201/

It wouldn't surprise me if the board did a runner and ourselves and the players learnt our fate from the TV or twitter, than the club themselves.

It seems most are confident we'll still be around next year, but I haven't seen anything to make us so confident. The Barnet chairman doesn't sound too enthused about it, judging by his comments on the BBC website and they're not short of offers. Is it just another 'money making' factor for a football team, before they lose interest and we're once again looking for a new home and identity? I must say the idea of having 17 Aussies and wanting to be exempt from relegation doesn't make me want to go running back and I don't see why we should be treated differently from the others.

Is there even a back up plan in case we can't find a saviour? The academy kids seem to have already been told they're not needed anymore judging by twitter comments and that's the worst part. Maybe it'd just be better to start again as a new fan owned club in Champ 1 with the current yoof and work our way back up, Crusaders seem to be a good model to follow. Find a local identity and link up with a local non-league team.

Anyway, I shall enjoy what will probably be the last top flight RL in London I'll see in a good while tomorrow.

The club's idea of 'marketing' is an advert in TNT magazine and a flyer in Shepherd's Bush walkabout, even though the Aussies have never been interested. Can't remember them ever attempting to promote the sport to Londoners or a local community.

In my view it is SL suicide overseen and by GM.

The Racecourse was sold to the Universty when the owners of both Wrexham and Crusaders pulled out, as I understood the RFL were paid back out of the proceeds. Was that not the case?

If it is the case then it would be the first that I have heard of it. It has not been mentioned on any RL forums.

The Uni definitely bought the stadium.

That much is true but there were a lot of debts secured against the stadium. AFAIK the RFL didn't get their money back.