Apparently the RFL were having a meeting about us at the time 'Boots 'n All' was on air. I'd loved to have been a fly on the wall - never mind, with the members' total inability to keep a secret I daresay we'll find out what happened fairly quickly!

My snout tells me that things are shaping up nicely at the club and new arrangements are falling into place.......apparently Branson is giving it another shot after enjoying a day out at the Challenge Cup Final.....he has put aside a truck load of money as a war chest. We are staying at the Stoop but will no longer be called Quins, next season we will simply be known as`V`....so fixtures will appear thus `Leeds v V`......spin off`s will be free travel on Virgin trains for Quins fans to away games (addressing the away crowd issue) but fares will be doubled for away fans coming to London to offset any financial loss. Quins fans will be actively encouraged to give the `V` sign to away supporters as a way of marketing the new product. The Hearts will now be known as the Virgins. A real coo on the player front......Morley, Briers, King, Anderson and Westwood have all been dropped by Smith for Fridays game when he discovered that they have signed for Quins (or should that be `V`) after being nobbled by Branson at said cup final. More news to follow..........

Sounded pretty ridiculous didn't it. However it did remind me of something a Wigan fan suggested a while back and that is that as we (Quins) are supposed to be important for the TV money - as much as 30% some estimate - is it not in the interests of the other clubs to ensure the London Franchise exists, else make do with less money? In other words if the other 13 clubs want the full amount of TV money should they not play some kind of role to ensure the survival of Quins. I said in response that it seemed ridiculous that other teams should help financially or otherwise a team that is one of their rivals in the Superleague, and that on that back of this, if Quins ever had a successful team on the pitch - in fact whenever they won a game - resentment would creep in from the other teams that they were aiding their own downfall. But I must admit I had never seen the situation from that point of view before.

Thinking more practically, would it not make greater sense for the RFL to keep back a chunk of TV money for development areas. Then it goes nowhere near to any club so they cannot call it 'their money', it simply goes into development in the targeted areas - predominantly London and Wales. If necessary the Crusaders and Quins can lead the initiative but the money comes from the RFL. Thereby leaving the outpost franchises able to concentrate their resources into running a successful club.

Yeah UTS, VB will be available in the bar but is being re-branded as "V" (hoorah!).

Re RFL development money, as I understand it, Wales and France get money and London does not (don't know how it's administered though).

Changing the subject slightly, did anyone read Reg Bowden's interview in the programme the other week? He said that he felt the RFL wanted Fulham in the comp, but they didn't really want them to be successful. I think that is still the case today, sadly.

Quote: aspouea " Thinking more practically, would it not make greater sense for the RFL to keep back a chunk of TV money for development areas. Then it goes nowhere near to any club so they cannot call it 'their money', it simply goes into development in the targeted areas - predominantly London and Wales. If necessary the Crusaders and Quins can lead the initiative but the money comes from the RFL. Thereby leaving the outpost franchises able to concentrate their resources into running a successful club.'" The RFL get a lot of money from Sport England (which I think has now been renamed) to increase participation among adults. Link indicating money guaranteed is about £30m. for 2009-2013. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 360914.ece

Quote: aspouea " Thinking more practically, would it not make greater sense for the RFL to keep back a chunk of TV money for development areas. Then it goes nowhere near to any club so they cannot call it 'their money', it simply goes into development in the targeted areas - predominantly London and Wales. If necessary the Crusaders and Quins can lead the initiative but the money comes from the RFL. Thereby leaving the outpost franchises able to concentrate their resources into running a successful club.'" The RFL get a lot of money from Sport England (which I think has now been renamed) to increase participation among adults. Link indicating money guaranteed is about £30m. for 2009-2013. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 360914.ece

I think we get support from the RFL via the development officers etc rather than in pound notes

I think you're wrong about the playing location. Branson has responded to complaints about Twickenham being too far from central London by buying Leicester Square, which he'll convert to a 25,000 capacity stadium.

It was going to be Trafalgar Square but he found out that Nelsons column was too wide to act as a goal post.

Surely the people don't need the whole of Hyde park, can't they give Branson the shi--y NW corner of it
or
convert Selfridges into the worlds first completely indoor rugby stadium, get the cannabis growers to donate some lamps to keep the pitch alive, jobs a good un.

So many [sizenumpties [/sizeon ere!!!!!

Purdo knows what's going on, but of course isn't going to blab

If there's anybody in RL more deserving of good news than Rob, I don't know who.

Quick heads up, Lenegan is going to be on BBC Radio Manchester Rugby League Extra within the next 2 hours.

Just announced he will be on just after 19:00

Yep, phone in competition with his shares as the prize.