green light for go says rfl

RFL Board of Directors give Doncaster green light

The future of professional Rugby League in Doncaster has been secured after the business plan put forward by the club’s new management team was approved by the RFL Board of Directors.

Doncaster were given the green light to begin planning for the 2010 season in Co-operative Championship One by convincing the RFL Board that they have the necessary resources, support and expertise.

“The club put forward a compelling case for them to be allowed to play in Co-operative Championship One and the Board were impressed by much of the work Doncaster have undertaken in recent months,” said the RFL’s Director of Development, Gary Tasker.

“There is a long way to go and a lot of hard work still to do but the club’s Chief Executive Carl Hall and all his colleagues are aware of that and we are more than happy to provide them with the help they need.

“Doncaster are an important member of the Rugby League family and the Keepmoat Stadium has strategic significance for the sport. It is imperative that they make it work this time.

“The club has considerable Civic support in Doncaster and has 10 corporate partners backing them, which together will help them build from stable foundations, but the people of Doncaster need to get behind them.

“In recent years some of the regimes at Doncaster have had unrealistic and unreasonable ambitions with too much focus on getting into Super League, a goal that has provoked an unacceptable cycle of boom and bust.

“Carl accepts the need to grow the club from the grassroots up, to build slowly and strongly and take the Doncaster community with them. If they do that the club stands every chance of succeeding.”

Doncaster were relegated from the Co-operative Championship in 2009 after being deducted nine points for going into administration in June.

Hall, a former Doncaster player, helped ensure the South Yorkshire club was able to fulfil its fixtures and is looking to the future with measured optimism.

“We are very grateful to the RFL Board of Directors for its support and pleased that they have shown faith in us,” said Hall.

“Our goal is to have a club that we and the town can be proud of. There’s a long way to go but I urge everyone in Doncaster to work with us and give us a chance.

“I know the Doncaster public have heard it all before but this time we really are in the last chance saloon. We need them to support us by coming to matches or supporting the club’s lottery.

“If enough people join the lottery at just £1 a week we will achieve our aim of having a club that is the pride of Doncaster and South Yorkshire.”