How’s this bloke going to attract sponsorship and investors to our game, when putting this statement. We all know the game is at risk, but I’ll bet this captain has a financial life belt if the Ship goes down.

RFL chief Ralph Rimmer fears some rugby league clubs may not survive coronavirus pandemic
Rimmer: "It's going to be testing for all the clubs out there and I can't guarantee hand on heart they'll all make it through"

By PA Media
Last Updated: 28/08/20 8:48pm

Rugby Football League chief executive Ralph Rimmer believes the game will emerge stronger from the coronavirus pandemic but cannot guarantee the survival of all the clubs.

Rimmer says the RFL has started to distribute the £16m Government loan it secured in April but admits many clubs still face a battle for survival without crowds.

Super League resumed at the start of the month behind closed doors but, after the postponement of four fixtures due to a string of positive coronavirus tests, Rimmer says simply seeing out the 125th year of rugby league would be an achievement.
It will need some pragmatic thinking but we're good at that," he said.

"We've produced some real agility on and off the field with the fixtures and formatting.
"I'm a member of the big five sports' chief executive group and they're in awe of the things we're able to do."

The RFL is not yet in a position to outline details of borrowing but Rimmer says the Government loan has been a lifeline.
"The money is flowing out," he said. "We're very grateful for the support that Government has given. It has been a lifeline. We are the only sport that has been recognised this way and we fought very hard for it.
"The £16m, as welcome as it was, still needs to be used very prudently indeed if it is to sustain us through to safe waters.
"It's going to be testing for all the clubs out there and I can't guarantee hand on heart they'll all make it through.
There's a lot of pressure on clubs and some may not be able to rise to it. We are here to ensure that the majority get through.
"We will look different from 2021 onwards and I think we'll emerge fitter and faster.
"We've relaunched Super League and the Challenge Cup is now moving forward and that's a pretty extraordinary set of achievements.
"We'll get to the completion of this season in one form or another and we will prove that you can't put us down."

Rimmer is still optimistic the Challenge Cup final can be played in front of supporters at Wembley on October 17 and says he is pushing the Government to allow publicly-distanced fans at Super League by the end of September.
"This process has brought us close to Government and we've been in the mix with the governing bodies fighting for pilots," he said.
"Our real focus has been producing a round on the September 30 as our pilot, which is 24 hours before it should be allowed.
"We've gone in hard and the Government have been receptive. Those discussions are ongoing and, if we could deliver that, it would be a big boost."
Rimmer is also hoping the Ashes Series can be rearranged for 2022 after the cancellation this year, which is expected to cost the governing body around £3m in lost revenue.
The international element is one of the most under-powered parts of our game," he added.

"We need to deliver big games at the end of each year and the Ashes in 2022 is a possibility within that."

More reality than fear.
Unless clubs can get fans back in reasonable numbers, EVERY club becomes severely at risk.
It's very, very, tough for the SL sides but, at least they have the TV revenue to help but, the Championship and League 1 clubs, with very,, very little income must be teetering on the precipice.

it seems more like when and not if the first clubs start to struggle (and that's not counting Toronto
(the N. American experiment looks worse now than it did 5 years ago, and it didn't look great then.

And the sport pays him a massive wedge to come out with comments like that

True, but how much of that money will be retained by the RFL, to cover the losses at the RFL, due to cancellations of international and domestic games. I’m pretty sure Rimmer will keep his own ship afloat, while watching clubs sink. I’m not aware if any clubs have applied for a slice of the money, and if clubs will receive the amount of money asked by the clubs. Will Rimmer hold money back from those clubs he thinks most likely at risk of sinking, therefore increasing the risk of said clubs going under. Is it down to Rimmer alone, or is there a committee who have a vote to decide which clubs and how much they receive. Perhaps I’ve not been paying attention, but I’m sure I’ve not seen any details of distribution of this funding to clubs. The RFL are not renowned for openness and transparency. Remember Odsalgate?

I'm not sure if any club would want people to know if they had asked for a slice of the monies and with it being a loan, most will try to get through without adding to their debts.
There was something about a meeting to decide upon the first wave of distribution but, like you, I've no idea who is involved in those discussions.
The point still remains that Rimmer did at least ask for help and receive it.
As for "Odsalgate", it's still ongoing, what a right royal farce that was/is,

As MC did say regarding the loan, it would just be "kicking the can down the road"
As for Dumb and Dumber, Rimmer - I can just about put up with, Elstone - a waste of money - unless they are paying him (well) for his annoying grinning face,

He did me when he backed Wigan, without waiting for evidence to be heard regarding their "cap" issues.
That told us everything we needed to know about how SL was going to be run.
Typical, big clubs can do no wrong which inevitably means that there isn't and wont be a level playing field.

Having said that, his main task is to secure the next TV deal so, let's see how that goes.

Whats happened to the 4 months interest on £16m? Probably gone into Rimmers deep pockets.